Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian AmericaCassin, John
Science
Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America
Cassin, John
Birds -- North America
“The nests, which were stuck into every cranny about the eaves and
porticoes of the houses throughout the town, were variously composed of
dry grass, fine roots, horse-hair, long pieces of cotton twine, or
strips of old calico; in fine, of countless odds and ends, that were
picked up about the yards;—these were curiously and firmly interwoven,
so as to make a warm and comfortable abode for the new-comers. Eggs,
four or five, pale blue, slightly marked on the larger end. The young
were able to fly by the middle or latter part of April. A second brood,
and in some cases, I believe a third was raised during the summer, as
not a few of them continue to incubate until some time in the month of
August. Before the latter part of September, however, nearly all of them
had disappeared from about Santa Fé.”
For the following additional account of this species, prepared expressly
for the present article, we are also indebted to Col. M‘Call:
“Whilst residing in New Mexico, I always remarked a gentle amity in the
character of this lively little songster which failed not to bespeak for
him the kindly regard of all with whom he made his abode, whether the
wealthy proprietor of the manor-house, or the humble _peon_, whose
miserable hut stood aloof from the mansion. For, the same cheerful
melody that soothed the noontide of the former while idly swinging in
his hammock, welcomed the appearance of the latter as he came forth at
the dawn of day to resume his toil; the same confiding familiarity was
observable in his approach to both, and the same merry pranks were
played, whether feeding on the bounty of the one, or gleaning a more
scanty meal near the ill-furnished table of the other. It was this
pleasing trait in his character which prompted me in the choice of his
name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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