Y._FRTEXDS OF THE HIGHWAY AND 

 DOOR-YARD. 



" The sun is hrisht, the air is clear. 



The darting swallows soar and sing, 

 Aud from the stately elins 1 hear 

 The bluebird prophesying: Spring." 



- LoN(i FELLOW. 



There is evident wisdom in the custom of planting 

 elms, maples, and other trees along the streets of our vil- 

 lages and cities, and of adorning our dooryards with ever- 

 greens and other shade and ornamental trees. It has had 

 a happy effect in attracting greater numbers of the birds 

 which choose to dwell in the vicinity of civilization. The 

 avian homes in the tall shade trees along the streets are 

 commonly secure from the depredations of crows, squir- 

 rels, owls, snakes, and other enemies, which render the 

 chances of successful issue so few when the nests are situ- 

 ated in forest localities. The proximity of gardens and 

 fruit trees also increases the supply of insect food, and 

 lessens the burden of providing for several hungry 

 mouths. There is additional danger to the fledgelings, 

 however, when they are ready to leave the nest, from the 

 stealthy cats and proverbial small boys. 



On the whole, there has been a sensible increase both 

 in the species and the individuals which live in towns and 

 suburban localities. The rows of fine hard maples in 

 many of our cities have attracted the wood thrush, one of 

 the most retiring of the wild wood species. During a so- 

 journ in Carlinville, Illinois, in the month of June, I was 

 daily regaled with the delightful warbling of this gifted 

 songster; and on one occasion I saw a wood thrush sit- 

 ting on a picket fence along College Avenue, sweetlv 



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