172 SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 



sunshiny March days, you suddenly perceive 

 a change has come over the trees. Their 

 tops have a less naked look. If the weather 

 continues warm, a single day will work won- 

 ders. Presently the tree will be one vast 

 plume of gray, downy tassels, while not the 

 least speck of green foliage is visible. The 

 first week in April, these long mimic cater- 

 pillars lie all about the streets and fill the 

 gutters. 



The approach of spring is also indicated 

 by the crows and buzzards, which rapidly 

 multiply in the environs of the city, and 

 grow bold and demonstrative. The crows 

 are abundant here all winter, but are not 

 very noticeable except as they pass high in 

 air to and from their winter-quarters in the 

 Virginia woods. Early in the morning, as 

 soon as it is light enough to discern them, 

 there they are, streaming eastward across 

 the sky, now in loose, scattered flocks, now 

 in thick, dense masses, then singly and in 

 pairs or triplets, but all setting in one direc- 

 tion, probably to the waters of Eastern Mary- 

 land. Toward night they begin to return, 

 flying in the same manner, and directing 

 their course to the wooded heights on the 

 Potomac, west of the city. In spring these 



