THE OSPREY. 



An Illustrated IVlagazine of Poptalar Ornithology. 



Pahlished [VIoDtbly. 



VOIyUMK IV. 



JULY AND AUGUST, 1900. 



NuMBKRS 11 and 12. 



Original Articles. 



BIRDS OF THF ROAD. VII. HIGH SUMMER. 

 By PauIv BakTSCH, Washing-ton, D. C. 



The bird movement seems at last to have at- 

 tained an equililirium, at least the hurrying- 

 northward has ceased and those forms, which 

 we see about us now, have selected sites and 

 have built homes from which they have led, or 

 will lead happj' little lamilies provided the fates 

 are propitious. The birds which we see about 

 our homes now, are the same which we saw 

 yesterday, the same which we will see to- 

 mcjrrow. June, July and early August are the 



the uncomfortable heat which you experience, 

 about the time when the clock admonishes you 

 that you will soon be due at office. You forg-et 

 all about the heat of the previous day, as you 

 pass along- the cool road and listen to ever joy- 

 ous notes of the birds which g-i'eet you every- 

 where. 



The Chat, the Cat Bird, the Thrasher and the 

 Song- Sparrow" are all voicing^ their happiness 

 and now and then a Robin adds his cheerily, 



The Sons Sparrow Melospiza tnelodia. 

 (From Year Book D. A. 1898.) 



months in which we may become acquainted 

 with indiv'iduals, for wlien a bird has selected a 

 nesting- site, it rarely wanders far from the 

 chosen place. 



What a pleasure it is no^v, to take a spin in 

 the early morning-, long- before the sun mounts 

 hig-h enough in the heavens to make von feel 



cheerily, so cheerily. But the Robin is not 

 nearly so abundant about Washington as we 

 would have him be. The Chat is a veritable 

 clown and though you watch him for hours, you 

 will never tire of his ever changing- attitudes 

 and notes. He is an avian acrobat and contor- 

 tionist. If you will patiently seat yourself on 



