September 



resting here on his long journey, and migrant 

 thrushes are becoming numerous. The red- 

 eyed vireo is abundant, but I can no longer 

 criticise his song, and the redstart carries him- 

 self with his jaunty air, seeming to think he is 

 making a great impression. 



Several cold and cloudy days, such as spur 

 the birds southward, followed by a bright, warm 

 morning that limbered their muscles and light- 

 ened their spirits, gave the Ramble a touch 

 of spring liveHness on the 28th, when I found 

 seventeen species — the olive-backed thrush, 

 thrasher, robin, song, white - throated, and 

 chipping sparrows, five species of warblers, 

 flicker, snow - bird, red - eyed vireo, broAMi 

 creeper, and the two kinglets. As far as zips 

 and chirps can go they were voluble enough, 

 but otherwise utterly silent, excepting a single 

 white-throat, who seemed to be ejecting the 

 remains of a last season's song, which, if an in- 

 dex of his feelings, proved him to be in a most 

 doleful state of mind. The golden-crowned 

 kinglet, appearing to-day for the first time, is 

 the little creature on whom, next to the chicka- 

 dee, the hilarity of the Park chiefly depends 

 during the bleak, stern months to come. He 

 radiates an atmosphere of friendliness and good 



263 



