Extracts from Diary of Otto Widmann 73 



liappiness chasing in pairs wildly through unmeasured 

 space, or sailing with wings held aloft in close proximity, 

 and with such harmony that it is plain to see two little 

 souls are animated by one thought. Humming birds were 

 repeatedly seen visiting the flowers, and seem to be quite 

 numerous along the bluffs, the homo of many a wild 

 flower seldom or never seen in other localities. 



The Flycatcher family was well represented by six 

 members, the Kingbird on open ground, the Great- 

 crested evorj'where in the woods, the Phoebe, whose nest 

 with eggs was on the veranda of the clubhouse, the Pewee 

 and Acadian Flycatcher, common inhabitants of the for- 

 est, and as a rare guest on its way from CV^ntral America 

 to the northern states the least Flycatcher, or Chebec. 

 Blue Jays were much in evidence all the time, the home 

 birds having nests were rather quiet, but there were yet 

 small troops of transients present, and these were noisily 

 flying about, headed northward. 



Crows were rather rare in Taney and neighboring 

 counties, for the reason, as we were told, that farmers 

 lay poison for them in the fields which they visit, believ- 

 ing to thereby increase the product of their farms, while 

 the result will be quite the other way by giving many 

 pests a better chance to propagate. 



The Cowbird, the faithful companion of the cattle, was 

 present wherever animals were grazing, but of other 

 Blackbirds none were noticed, though thev mav locallv 

 occur in small numbers. 



The Meadow Lark also distinguished itself through 

 absence. So much more conspicuous was the Orchard 

 Oriole, then in its full song period, mating, courting, and 

 nest building. It seems to thrive best in the immediate 

 vicinity of human habitation and frequents the shade 

 trees of the town. The Baltimore being a more northern 

 breeder but not entirely missing in the valleys of the 

 Ozarks was represented by only a few which had appar- 

 ently come to stay in addition to a troop of 6-8 transients, 



