SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 



WITH AN EYE TO THE BIRDS. 



I CAME to Washington to live in the fall 

 of 1863, and, with the exception of a month 

 each summer spent in the interior of New 

 York, have lived here ever since. 



I saw my first novelty in Natural History 

 the day after my arrival. As I was walking 

 near some woods north of the city, a grass- 

 hopper of prodigious size flew up from the 

 ground, and alighted in a tree. As I pur- 

 sued him, he proved to be nearly as wild 

 and as fleet of wing as a bird. I thought I 

 had reached the capital of grasshopperdom, 

 and that this was perhaps one of the chiefs 

 or leaders, or perhaps the great High Cock- 

 olorum himself, taking an airing in the 

 fields. I have never yet been able to settle 

 the question, as every fall I start up a few of 

 these gigantic specimens, which perch on the 

 trees. They are about three inches long, of 

 a gray striped or spotted color, and have 

 quite a reptile look. 



