The Audubon Societies 179 



We had the pleasure of meeting a number of the large Sparrow family. They 

 were the Fox Sparrow, Tree Sparrow and Song Sparrow. We heard the clear, 

 sweet song of the Song Sparrow ring out over snow-covered meadows, and felt 

 that our trip was worth while, even if this were its only pleasure. But it was 

 not the only pleasure nor the greatest, for after a while we heard a loud chirp- 

 ing and, looking up, saw a large flock of Starlings. The chirping stopped 

 abruptly, and we then heard the song of the Starling. At length the great flock 

 rose and sailed across the leaden sky like a black cloud. I was delighted, for it 

 was the first time I had ever seen a flock so large. 



Later in our walk we heard the Downy Woodpecker and the Chickadee. 

 Looking up, we saw, sailing over stately snow-laden hemlocks, which over- 

 hung a rippling silver brook, a Crow, the messenger of spring. He blended 

 oddly with the silent study in black and white, the view of nature in repose. 



Farther on we saw the little friend of the north, the Snowbird, hopping 

 over his native element and pecking happily at a withered brown bean-vine. 

 A short distance from him we saw the female Cardinal perched on a low bush. 

 To our great joy, she flew down from the bush to the little stream under it and 

 drank of its cold, crystal water. All this took place just beyond a rail-fence. 

 At the fence was a clump of trees heavily laden with the snow. We were just 

 turning away from the trees and the scene of recent discovery when we heard 

 the wild clear cry of the male Cardinal. We were held breathless while those 

 true notes of nature were sung by our little friend's mate. Every chord of our 

 minds was entirely thrilled. Those few notes of the untaught bird expressed 

 more of nature's wonderfulness than can be written on paper. They made one 

 feel as though being a bird were the only life worth living. This half-minute of 

 our walk was worth more to us than a day of ordinary indoor bird-study. 



The only way to really study a bird or anything in nature is to go to the 

 woods or fields and see it as it really is, not as others see it. Those who know 

 nothing of nature have missed half the joy of life. — Emma May MacIntyrk 

 (Age 14 years), Secretary of the "Wake-Robin" Club, West Philadelphia, Pa. 



[To see nature as "it really is" is surely worth many days of plodding indoor study. 

 The plea for outdoor study is more than ever worthy our attention in these strained, 

 unnatural times. — A. H. W.) 



A SPRING NOTE FROM THE TEACHER OF THE WAKE- 

 ROBIN CLUB 



Our first spring walk was taken on March 3, with two of my oldest pupils, 

 and original members of the Wake-Robin Club. The snow was 5 or 6 inches 

 deep, but they wished to go. I myself had been exploring the snow-white 

 country two days previously, and had found out rare birdland secrets. I was 

 delighted to have these pupils go. My happy hunting-grounds are the creek 

 valleys, where there is woodland, field, swamp, meadow, and bushes. I haunt 

 the near-by creek section particularly. 



