SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 177 



buzzards sailing around over the great Falls 

 of the Potomac. 



A glimpse of the birds usually found here 

 in the latter part of winter may be had in 

 the following extract, which I take from my 

 diary under date of February 4th : 



" Made a long excursion through the 

 woods and over the hills. Went directly 

 north from the Capitol for about three miles. 

 The ground bare and the day cold and sharp. 

 In the suburbs, among the scattered Irish 

 and negro shanties, came suddenly upon a 

 flock of birds, feeding about like our North- 

 ern snow-buntings. Every now and then 

 they uttered a piping, disconsolate note, as if 

 they had a very sorry time of it. They 

 proved to be shore-larks, the first I had ever 

 seen. They had the walk characteristic of 

 all larks ; were a little larger than the spar- 

 row; had a black spot on the breast, with 

 much white on the under parts of their 

 bodies. As I approached them, the nearer 

 ones paused, and, half squatting, eyed me 

 suspiciously. Presently, at a movement of 

 my arm, away they went, flying exactly like 

 the snow-bunting, and showing nearly as 

 much white." (I have since discovered that 

 the shore-lark is a regular visitant here in 



