116 



THE OSPKEY. 



windmill, to take a birds-eye view of our pre- 

 mises. I saw birds come long distances, head- 

 ing for our place, ignoring all others, evidently 

 knowing that a table had been spread for them. 

 One of my 4x5 photos shows thirtA'-nine speci- 

 mens busily engaged at meal — and I counted 

 sixty-three present at one time. All hungry 

 and ready to eat. 



But these are things of the past. To-day the 

 Chipping Sparrow sends his simple thrill forth 

 from the same trees in which the Purple 

 Finches were rehearsing- their notes in an under- 

 tone a month ago and an occasional Bluebird 

 lisps his dainty note as he floats past, through 

 the blue sky. The Purple Grackle again struts 

 over the Smithsonian lawn just as he did a year 

 ago, displaying his glossy coat much to the dis- 

 gust of the vicious Fish Crows, who seems 

 jealous of his iridescent hues and would rather 

 have them in Maryland than in the Park. 



The Robin again mounts a tip-top branch 

 at dawn and eve and tells us to be "cheery, 

 cheerily!" and to "Cheer up Cheer up Tut, Tut, 

 Cheer up, Cheerily!" and so we do! 



its warm rays down upon your treasures to-day, 

 or 3'our spouse could scarceh' spare the time for 

 such frivolities. Enjoy yourself while yet you 

 may, for soon the hungry pair of infants will re- 

 quire your watchful e^^es to roam the field for 

 mice and kindred folk more closely. 



Chickweed. Draba, Bluets andHepatica are all 

 in bloom and Dicentra and Arbutus are ready to 

 spring their swelling buds. Birds are every- 

 where to-day — Junco is in full song and roams 

 the tree tops from which he sends his fine 

 chattering- trill, as well as from the recesses 

 of the shad}' glen. 



Bluebirds seem abundant, and one male res- 

 ponds to my imitating call.. He is angry — • 

 evidently he dislikes the intruder — I don't blame 

 him. He has a pretty, coy, wife and a fine or- 

 chard; I hope he will remain to rear his brood. 

 As we passed an extensive meadow we noticed 

 the first representatives of the Swallow family, 

 a pair of the most graceful members of the 

 group — the Barn Swallow — skimming lightly 

 through the air raising and lowering as the 

 chase after the winged prej' demands. What an 



Purple Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula, 

 (From Bulletin 7 of Division of IJeoiiomic Biol( 



<y D. A.) 



APRII. 1st. 



Light at heart we grasp our cane and trend 

 our step country ward — to the woods and 

 fields where flowers ought to bloom; where 

 nature greets with silent language and tongue 

 both quaint and varied. Yea, indeed on days 

 like these we can truly say that: 



"The town and all its pleasures 

 No charms to me disclose, 

 But midst the woodland forests 

 My heart finds sweet repose." 



High up in the blue ether a pair of Hawks are 

 sporting and screaming from sheer happiness. 



Buteo it is well for you that the sun is beaming 

 unlimited amount of enthusiasm and pleasure 

 these winged messengers of spring bring with 

 them. It seems as if our spirit mounted with 

 them into a purer atmosphere, yea, our mind 

 passes beyond this and dwells with spheres 

 where the mind alone can dwell. What a pro- 

 mise to the woi-ld is this returning spring! and 

 Swallow, graceful, pretty Swallow, 3'ou are its 

 herald true! 



We are visiting the timbered region of Silver 

 Hill, Md., to-day. This is said to cover about four 

 square miles and I believe it to be the largest 

 and finest piece of woods near Washington. 



