76 LAND OF THE LINGERING SNOW. 



thought the prints might be those of a young 

 otter. We also found where a muskrat had 

 stepped upon the mud, placing his hind feet 

 so closely together as to make one broad print, 

 dragging meanwhile his tail in such a way as 

 to leave an odd groove in the mud. Flying 

 about in this meadow and the higher woods 

 adjoining it were two kinds of butterflies and 

 a beautiful moth. I also found a partially de- 

 veloped locust. 



While watching and admiring these gay sur- 

 vivors of the winter, we heard a brown creeper 

 sing. It was a rare treat. The song is singu- 

 larly strong, full of meaning and charm, espe- 

 cially when the size of its tiny performer is 

 remembered. A grouse, two tree sparrows, and a 

 downy woodpecker were added to our list towards 

 the middle of the day, and early in the after- 

 noon two chickadees, seemingly mated, were 

 greatly exercised over my friend's excellent 

 mimicry of the " phoebe note " of the male chick- 

 adee. The male answered with much vigor, and 

 within less than three feet of the mimic's face. 

 In making this sweet ventriloqual note, the bird 

 throws its head back and opens its beak, quite in 

 the manner of a Christmas-card bird. The only 

 other bird song which we heard was that of the 

 flicker calling energetically to his mate. 



The event of the day was the sight of a barred 



