188 SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 



of the city. When the season is backward, 

 they tarry a week or ten days, singing freely, 

 and appearing quite at home. In large 

 flocks they search over every inch of ground, 

 and at intervals hover on the wing or alight 

 in the tree-tops, all pouring forth their glad- 

 ness at once, and filling the air with a mul- 

 titudinous musical clamor. 



They continue to pass, travelling by night, 

 and feeding by day, till after the middle of 

 May, when they cease. In September, with 

 numbers greatly increased, they are on their 

 way back. I am first advised of their return 

 by hearing their calls at night as they fly 

 over the city. On certain nights the sound 

 becomes quite noticeable. I have awakened 

 in the middle of the night, and, through the 

 open window, as I lay in bed, heard their 

 faint notes. The warblers begin to return 

 about the same time, and are clearly distin- 

 guished by their timid yeaps. On dark, 

 cloudy nights, the birds seem confused by 

 the lights of the city, and apparently wander 

 about above it. 



In the spring the same curious incident is 

 repeated, though but few voices can be iden- 

 tified. I make out the snow-bird, the bobo- 

 link, the warblers, and on two nights during 



