The Birds' Calendar 



in some portions of its general route ; so that a 

 pleasure which the sight of its chestnut breast 

 could not give, is imparted by the fact that 

 some of my neighbors cannot see it at all. 

 This may be a villainous sort of delight, but 

 the odium of such unmitigated selfishness be- 

 longs equally to every class of naturalists, and, 

 in extenuation of their fault, it may truly be 

 urged that naturalists are no worse than all oth- 

 ers, as this trait of depravity is not generated, 

 but only brought to the surface, by natural re- 

 search. 



When birds are located for the summer there 

 is little fluctuation from day to day in numbers 

 and varieties at a given place. But with the 

 incoming and outgoing tides of spring and fall, 

 a few hours will often make a great difference. 

 One day a particular area may be quite deserted, 

 and the very next every tree and bush may be 

 alive with birds. Thus the bay-breasted came 

 in large numbers one morning, and in a few 

 hours quite disappeared ; evidently for the most 

 part males, from their full plumage, although 

 among the number I observed one very dilapi- 

 dated looking specimen, which I take it had the 

 honor of being a female. 



One of the least considered, but most wonder - 

 176 



