A FLOWER MARVEL.— STARLINGS. 



A Flower Marvel. 



BY NEAI. WVATT CII A I'i, I NK, SARASOTA, FLA. 



Did you ever stop long enough to 

 watch a flower bloom ? You say that is 

 an impossibility? Well I beg to differ 

 — I saw the marvel for myself a few 

 days ago. 



Three of my children and I were 

 walking down the street late one after- 

 noon and, feeling tired, I suggested 

 that we sit down on the grassy sward 

 just off the sidewalk. 



We had walked almost to the city 

 limits out Main Street, and felt that 

 we could lay aside conventions and 

 rest by the way if we chose. 



Glancing up at the vine clambering 

 over the fence and up a huge pine, I 

 spied a beautiful white flower. When 

 the children brought it to me I found 

 it to be a moonflower, pure white, green 

 veined and deliciously fragrant. When 

 I looked again there was another 

 flower where before there had been 

 none. Calling the children to me I 

 said, "Let's watch and perhaps we can 

 see them open." 



We sat entranced at the sight. 

 Tightly folded buds gradually unfolded 

 and with a breath taking quickness, 

 this flower-o'-the-night poured out its 

 soulful fragrance from a huge white 

 chalice. 



I fancied this miracle was being 

 wrought for our appreciation alone, 

 until looking up, I saw the queen to 

 whom this sublime obeisance was be- 

 ing made. Calmly she reclined on her 

 silver-edged couch of blue and her sub- 

 jects vied with each other to do her 

 homage. Just as the sunflower is pre- 

 sumed to worship the sun, turning a 

 radiant face always toward him whom 

 she adores, so the moonflower only 

 gives up her frail and delicious incense 

 and beauty on the appearance of her 

 queen, the moon. 



We sat watching this great marvel 

 of nature until, where there was, at 

 first, a fence filled with green leaves 

 and tightly rolled green buds, we 

 turned homeward leaving hundreds of 

 exquisite, light-green-veined white 

 blossoms, pouring out soulful incense 

 to their queen and any poor mortals 

 who would stop long enough to wait 

 and watch for their wonderful trans- 

 formation. 



"Moonflower Corner" is now one of 



our favorite resting places when we 

 take our daily walks. 



Protest Against Starlings. 



Nirvana, Stamford, Conn. 

 To the Editor: 



I notice in The Guidk to Nature for 

 May a protest regarding the indifference 

 so widely shown all over the country 

 concerning some of the pests that menace 

 our national welfare. Your correspond- 

 ent refers to insects, English sparrows 

 and English starlings and asks for opin- 

 ions about the latter. 



In "Bird-Lore" of July-August, 1907, 

 there was published a letter from me in 

 which I ventured to prophesy, {as long 

 ago as that) not only that these birds 

 would drive away our own more desir- 

 able birds, but would increase in num- 

 bers almost unbelievable. My prophesy 

 has been fulfilled. Every year we hear 

 of some new state being invaded by this 

 pest. In 1905 I could count my starling 

 visitors on my fingers ; now, particularly 

 after nesting time, the meadows are fre- 

 quently black with them. They are very 

 hardy ; they remain the entire year 

 round ; and since they established them- 

 selves permanently I haven't a bluebird on 

 the place where formerly I had five or 

 six pairs that came every year to the same 

 holes or bird boxes. 



Every spring I used to rejoice in "show- 

 ing off" my bluebirds and goldfinches 

 feeding on the lawns together. Every 

 year for the past six or more, the 

 starlings have fought for a natural 

 hole in an elm tree close to my bedroom 

 window. This hole has been the home of 

 a pair of flickers for nine consecutive 

 years. Owing to my watchfulness the 

 flickers have had the best of it until last 

 spring ; then, after mudi pestering on the 

 part of starlings, sparrows and gray 

 squirrels, something happened to the 

 female, and although the male brooded 

 and hatched out the young (for I could 

 hear them) the raising of six proved too 

 much for one parent, and his persistent 

 calling brought no aid, so the nest was 

 finally deserted. 



I earnestly wish, with your correspond- 

 ent, that something could be done to rid 

 the country of these two foreigners. What 

 little good they do (if they do any) would 

 be done by our native birds, and probably 

 much more thoroughly. 



Very sincerely yours, 



Nathalie Alexandre. 



