128 Bird Comrades 



in Kansas I came upon a flock of them in a wooded hollow 

 by the river on the eighth of December, 1897, and then 

 after a severe snowstorm had swept over the region from 

 the western prairies. It seemed odd to find these dainty 

 f eatherland blossoms when the whole country was covered 

 with an ermine of snow. 



Then they disappeared, and I did not expect to see 

 them again until the next spring ; but on the fourteenth of 

 February, which was a warm, vernal day thrust into the 

 midst of winter, a flock of perhaps a dozen were flitting 

 and chirping among the trees in the suburbs of the city, 

 their hoarse little chep, always giving one the impression 

 that the birds have taken a cold which has affected their 

 vocal cords, sounding as familiar as of old. However, 

 that very evening at dusk a black cloud, charged with 

 electricity and bellowing with anger, came up out of the 

 west like a young Lochinvar, and hurled a fierce storm 

 across the hills and valleys, and the next day not a 

 myrtle warbler was to be seen in all the countryside, 

 though I tramped weary miles in search of them. The 

 tempest had doubtless frightened them away to the 

 suaver southland, from which they did not return until 

 the following spring. 



One of my most pleasing observations was made on 

 December 19, 1902. There had been a number of days 

 of severe weather, accompanied by hard storms. Six 

 inches of snow lay on the ground. Now the storm had 

 spent its force, the sun was shining genially, and the snow 

 was melting. Warm as it was, I was greatly surprised to 



