A Bouquet of Song Birds 
—three or four in a single tree—a species that 
is locally quite abundant on both sides of the 
river at this point. The indigo bird, less glar- 
ing, but hardly less intense in color, fluttered 
along the path; and the hooded warbler was 
flitting low from bush to bush, and incessantly 
spreading his white-spotted tail. The black- 
and-white creeper was everywhere—a deceptive 
fellow in his variety of notes, until one has 
learned his tricks. It would almost seem that 
he is sportively mocking the listener, as one 
hears his frequent change of tune. A pair of 
complaining veerys—not so abundant here as 
at West Englewood—an occasional Maryland 
yellow-throat, oven-bird, chewink, the red- 
eyed and the yellow-throated vireos, were the 
species that chiefly beguiled the way—twenty- 
six varieties of companionship in what some 
might have called a lonesome, unentertaining 
trip—to say nothing of the shy glances of in- 
numerable violet eyes, the nodding flames of 
columbine, bright skies, and a panoramic 
scene along the river. Such views inform the 
mind and mould the soul as well, and some- 
times better than all books can do. ‘To one 
that has a heart for such a walk, there is no 
solitude in Nature. 
25 
