SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 175 



larger tree-toad, proceeding from an oak grove just 

 beyond the boundary. He is a strong scented fellow 

 and very tough. Yet how beautiful, as he flits about 

 the open woods, connecting the trees by a gentle arc 

 of crimson and white ! This is another bird with a 

 military look. His deliberate, dignified ways, and his 

 bright uniform of red, white, and steel-blue, bespeak 

 him an oflEicer of rank. 



Another favorite beat of mine is northeast of the 

 city. Looking from the Capitol in this direction, 

 scarcely more than a mile distant, you see a broad 

 green hill-slope, falling very gently, and spreading 

 into a large expanse of meadow-land. The summit, 

 if so gentle a swell of greensward may be said to have 

 a summit, is covered with a grove of large oaks; and, 

 sweeping back out of sight like a mantle, the front 

 line of a thick forest bounds the sides. This emerald 

 landscape is seen from a number of points in the city. 

 Looking along New York Avenue from Northern 

 Liberty Market, the eye glances, as it were, from the 

 red clay of the street, and alights upon this fresh 

 scene in the distance. It is a standing invitation to 

 the citizen to come forth and be refreshed. As I turn 

 from some hot, hard street, how inviting it looks ! I 

 bathe my eyes in it as in a fountain. Sometimes 

 troops of cattle are seen grazing upon it. In June 

 the gathering of the hay may be witnessed. When 

 Uie ground is covered with snow, numerous stacks, o/ 

 clusters of stacks, are still left for the eye to contem 

 plate. 



