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T H E W H I T E - T H R O A T E D SPARROW.
FRIKGILLA PENNSYL VANICA, LATH.
P L A T E V I I I . MALE AND FEMALE.
THIS pretty little bird is a visitor of Louisiana and all the southern
districts, where it remains only a very short time. Its arrival in Louisiana
may be stated to take place in the beginning of November, and its
departure in the first days of March. In all the Middle States it remains
longer. How it comes and how it departs are to me quite unknown. I
can only say, that, all of a sudden, the hedges of the fields bordering on
creeks or swampy places, and overgrown with different species of vines,
sumach bushes, briars, and the taller kinds of grasses, appear covered
with these birds. They form groups, sometimes containing from thirty
to fifty individuals, and live together in harmony. They are constantly
moving up and down among these recesses, with frequent jerkings of the
tail, and uttering a note common to the tribe. From the hedges and
thickets they issue one by one in quick succession, and ramble to the distance
of eight or ten yards, hopping and scratching, in quest of small
seeds, and preserving the utmost silence. When the least noise is heard,
or alarm given, and frequently, as I thought, without any alarm at all,
they all fly back to their covert, pushing directly into the very thickest
part of it. A moment elapses, when they become reassured, and ascending
to the highest branches and twigs, open a little concert, which, although
of short duration, is extremely sweet. There is much plaintive
softness in their note, which I wish, kind reader, I could describe to you;
but this is impossible, although it is yet ringing in my ear, as if I were
in those very fields where I have so often listened to it with delight. No
sooner is their music over than they return to the field, and thus continue
alternately sallying forth and retreating during the greater part of
the day. At the approach of night, they utter a sharper and shriller
note, consisting of a single twit, repeated in smart succession by the
whole group, and continuing until the first hooting of some owl frightens
them into silence. Yet, often during fine nights, I have heard the little
creatures emit here and there a twit, as if to assure each other that " all's
well."
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 43
During the warmer days, they remove partially to the woods, hut
never out of reach of their favourite briar thickets, ascend the tops of
hollies, or such other trees as are covered with tangled vines, and pick
either a berry or a winter grape. Their principal enemies in the daytime,
are the little Sparrow Hawk, the Slate-coloured or Sharp-shinned
Hawk, and above all, the Hen-harrier or Marsh Hawk. The latter
passes over their little coteries with such light wings, and so unlooked
for, that he seldom fails in securing one of them.
No sooner does spring return, when our woods are covered with white
blossoms, in gay mimicry of the now melted snows, and the delighted eye
is attracted by the beautiful flowers of the Dog-wood tree, than the
White-throated Sparrow bids farewell to these parts, not to return till
winter. Where it spends the summer I know not, but I should think
not within the States.
It is a plump bird, fattening almost to excess, whilst in Louisiana,
and affords delicious eating, for which purpose many are killed with
blow-guns. These instruments—should you not have seen them—are
prepared by the Indians, who cut the straightest canes, perforating them
by forcing a hickery rod through the internal partitions which intersect
this species of bamboo, and render them quite smooth within by passing the
rod repeatedly through. The cane is then kept perfectly straight, and is
well dried, after which it is ready for use. Splints of wood, or more frequently
of cane, are then worked into tiny arrows, quite sharp at one end,
and at the other, instead of being feathered, covered with squirrel hair or
other soft substances, in the manner of a bottle-brush, so as to fill the
tube and receive the impulse imparted by a smart puff of breath, which
is sufficient to propel such an arrow with force enough to kill a small
bird at the distance of eight or ten paces. With these blow-guns or
pipes, several species of birds are killed in large quantities; and the
Indians sometimes procure even squirrels by means of them.
The Dog-wood, of which I have represented a twig in early spring,
is a small tree found nearly throughout the Union, but generally preferring
such lands as with us are called of second quality, although it occasionally
makes its appearance in the richest alluvial deposits. Its height
seldom exceeds twenty feet, or its diameter ten inches. It is scarcely
ever straight to any extent, but the wood, being extremely hard ana* compact,
is useful for turning, when well dried and free of wind-shakes, to
which it is rather liable. Its berries are eaten by various species of birds,