THE OSPREY. 



117 



While we were enjoying- our luncheon, stretch- 

 ed upon a mat of ashy lichens, on a hill top, we 

 noticed the first butterfly, a pair of Mourning- 

 Cloaks (Vanessa antiopa), and whilst contem- 

 plating- their capture we were rather startled by 

 the sudden loud cackling- laug-h of the Pileated 

 Woodpecker. For a while a pair of these birds 

 made themselves quite conspicuous bj^ their 

 rollicking- notes and manner and the occasional 

 strong- tapping- of their bill. (This bird acci- 

 dentally posed for the Yellow-bellied Wood- 

 pecker in the last number of the OspkEY and we 

 shall now make reparation to Mr. Sphyrapicus 

 by publishing- his cut in his place). 



tion of this desire. Though present in num- 

 bers at this season, they have never favored me 

 with a sample of their much praised song-. 

 The High-hole sounds his flicker, flicker, flicker, 

 flicker, with great glee as, with many a bob and 

 antic quaint, he pursues his mate up fences post 

 and tree trunks, and chases her with restless 

 energy from one to another, all the while dis- 

 playing his scarlet crest, or the brilliant golden 

 vmder surface of his wings and tail, or more 

 often the bright white rump patch which pro- 

 nounces him the Flicker as loudly as his call. 

 I love to hear his buoyant voice, and watch him 

 woo his mate again, with the old springtime 



The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. Sphyrapicus varius. 

 (From Bulletin 7 of Division of Economic Biology D. A.) 



The Old Field Lark's sweet strains now and 

 then were wafted to us on the breeze from dis- 

 tant pasture fields, and mingled with them often 

 came the powerful beats of happy Cardinal's 

 from the roadside-skirting- brush. All nature 

 seemed gay and joyous to-day. Even the frogs 

 of the miry pools sent up their jolly medle3' of 

 japs and krrs that not a space might be void of 

 merry revelry. 



I have often longed to hear the eastern form 

 of the Vesper Sparrow offer his pastoral hymu, 

 but so far have been unable to obtain gratifica- 



love and ardor. He is indeed a very happy 

 fellow. 



How subdued the pines are humming to-day, 

 sweet and drowsily, inviting the passer-by to 

 tarry a while and listen to their restful mood 

 and'imbibe that peaceful harmony which always 

 seems their own. The pines are not the favorite 

 haunts of many of our birds at this season, 

 except at night then indeed they furnish a safe 

 cover to many of our feathered friends. But 

 to-daj% when the sunshine calls to new life 

 all vegetation, the birds seek brighter fields! 



