File:Birds and nature (1905) (14568949569).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature21905chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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during the nestingseason. While the Cuckoos cannot be consid-ered social birds quite a number aresometimes seen in the same tree duringthe mating season. The breeding range of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is coextensive with itsgeographical distribution in the UnitedStates and Southern Canada. Its rangeextends through temperate North Amer-ica east of the Great Plains, and in win-ter it passes southward to Costa Ricaand the West Indies. There are few ifany birds which are poorer nest build-ers. The nests are shallow platformsconstructed with sticks, twigs, rootletsand strips of bark, among which and onthe top of the platform there may befound dry leaves, bits of mosses, catkinsof various trees, tufts of grasses, andeven pieces of cloth. These platformnests are sometimes not as wide as theparent bird is long. The depression inthe center of the nest is so slight thatthe eggs are not easily retained even ina moderate wind, unless one of the birdsis siltiniz on tluMu. The nosts arc so care- 6)
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lessly constructed that the eggs may bereadily seen through the bottom. Thenests are usually placed in trees andshrubs, where they are well concealed byfoliage. The mother bird, though timidat other times, is very courageous in thedefense of her eggs and young. MajorBendire says: Usually an egg is de-posited daily, and as a rule incubationdoes not commence until the set is com-pleted. Sometimes, however, there is a considerable interval of time, from twoto eight days, between the laying of theeggs, and the bird may begin incubationwith the laying of the first egg. TheYellow-billed Cuckoo, unlike its Euro-pean relative, rears its own young in anest built by the parent bird. It is pos-sible, however, that they may very rarelylay an egg in the nests of other birds, butthis is doubted by some of our best ob-servers. AMONG THE TREES. THE LINDEN TREE. Mabel was reclining on a grassyslope and looking at a tree whoseleaves, dark, glossy green above, andapple-green with tufts of brown hairat t

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