178 SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 



February and March, when large quantities 

 of them are shot or trapped, and exposed for 

 sale in the market. During a heavy snow I 

 have seen numbers of them feeding upon 

 the seeds of various weedy growths in a large 

 market-garden well into town.) " Pressing 

 on, the walk became exhilarating. Followed 

 a little brook, the eastern branch of the Tiber, 

 lined with bushes and a rank growth of green 

 brier. Sparrows started out here and there 

 and flew across the little bends and points. 

 Among some pines just beyond the boun- 

 dary, saw a number of American goldfinches, 

 in their gray winter dress, pecking the pine- 

 cones. A golden-crowned kinglet was there, 

 also, a little tuft of gray feathers, hopping 

 about as restless as a spirit. Had the old 

 pine-trees food delicate enough for him also? 

 Farther on, in some low open woods, saw 

 many sparrows, the fox, white-throated, 

 white-crowned, the Canada, the song, the 

 swamp, all herding together along the 

 warm and sheltered borders. To my sur- 

 prise saw a cheewink also, and the yellow- 

 rumped warbler. The purple finch was there 

 likewise, and the Carolina wren and brown 

 creeper. In the higher, colder woods not a 

 bird was to be seen. Returning, near sun- 



