132 



THE OSPEEY. 



to see the Yellow Warbler chased away by a 

 pesky Eng-lish Sparrow which sealed that spar- 

 row's fate. 



On the 29th we enjoyed a twenty mile drive 

 over many a picturesque old countr\' road, yea 

 we even managed to get lost in the eastern out- 

 skirt of that beautiful timber area to which we 

 referred in our last month notes. We crossed 

 the fill and bridge at Bennings and paused just 



seems as unconscious of his song as he is of his 

 curious prying manner. His Vireo nature and 

 loud, whit-che-we-wa-wit. or the long drawn, che- 

 we-a. which usually follows a succession of repi- 

 titions of the first, will mark him. even though 

 30U fail to see the white iris of his eye. The 

 Black and White Creeping Warblers were very 

 abundant: their thin wiry voices proclaimed the 

 fire within. It was their mating time. Mr. 







Our Faithful Catbird. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. 

 (From Bulletin of Division of Economic Biologj- D. A.) 



long enough to take a picture and a look at the 

 tranquil scene which lay before us. To the north 

 stretched the broad expansive tidewater waste. 

 It being high tide, none of the unsightliness 

 and desolation of the opposite phase was present. 

 Not a ripple marred the mirrowy surface and the 

 points and islands as well as the distant hills 

 and the white castle-like reform school, with now 

 and then a fleeting fleecy cloud, were reflected 

 from the surface of the stream. 



A pair of ducks could be seen among the beds 

 of old dead weeds near shore, from which place 

 thev sent gradually ebbing ring upon ring far 

 out'over the glassy surface. Swallows of divers 

 kinds were skimming high and low. and even 

 while we were watching, an Osprey sailed over, 

 circling time and again, scrutinizing all the 

 while the clear waters beneath, for its finny 

 pre v. 



We followed the river road toward Anacostia 

 from Bennings. and enjoyed the rough shady 

 way with its many a glen and dancing brook, 

 each one of which had its avian chorus. How 

 delightful it is to pause and listen to the many 

 voices all about you.— the song of birds, the hum 

 of bees, the murmuring of the rill, all mingled 

 with the whispering of the breeze stirred leaves. 

 — they are sweeter far than any music which 

 human hand or brain can produce. The most 

 conspicuous voice in such a place is without 

 doubt that of the White-eyed Vireo. though he 



Mniotilta has little time to spare apparently, 

 for he sets to housekeeping almost as soon 

 as he arrives: at least he urges his chosen 

 spouse to household duty. The Waxwings are 

 less industrious in this respect, for the)- still 

 remain in roving bands. They have changed 

 their habits. — for no longer does the blackber- 

 ried Smilax have charms for them. — they have 

 removed to higher regions and now perform the 

 functions of Flycatchers. From the tip-top of 

 tall trees they launch into the air and give chase 

 to the luckless insects which ma)- pass their 

 way. In the deeper cuts of the road, fringed by 

 dense hedgerows, we find White-throats and 

 Juncos fleeing ahead of us as we approach. An 

 occasional Song Sparrow is seen amongst them. 

 We turned toward Overlook Inn when we 

 reached Pennsylvania avenue extended, and 

 paused to listen to the medley in the deep shady 

 retreat which borders the splendidly kept road 

 leading to this resort. The old music teacher, 

 for as such does the Golden Crown Thrush 

 always appeal to me. beat time as it were, to the 

 rest of the vocalists. The tin)- Red-start in his 

 flashing dress was announcing his presence 

 with his periodic musical eruptions while from a 

 not too distant pine coppice the Prairie Warbler 

 added his quavering notes with rising inflection. 

 Best and purest of all were the deep silvertone 

 bell-like notes of the Wood-thrush which came 

 clear and full from the deep shade of the over- 



