ACCORDING TO SEASON 



English hand. But besides this, they are more obstrep- 

 spatraws erQUS t^n ever; yet so joyfully obstreperous 

 that I cannot find it in my heart to feel toward 

 them all the antagonism that seems to be con- 

 sidered a mark of patriotism. That they never 

 had been brought over to banish our far more 

 attractive native birds is most heartily to be 

 wished. But as they are with us, by no fault 

 of their own, I find it impossible, especially at this 

 season, to withhold from them a certain amount 

 of sympathy. They are so overflowing with vi- 

 tality, so brimful of plans, such ardent wooers, 

 such eager house-builders. Their superfluous 

 enthusiasm in this matter of house-building is 

 responsible for the unsightly fringes of rope and 

 other materials that decorate the under-eaves of 

 our houses. The amount of energy that they 

 throw into their slightest occupation shames our 

 languid selves. And I frankly admit that I take 

 a keen pleasure in seeing their palpitating little 

 shadows sweep impetuously across the bars of 

 sunlight that lie upon my floor. These seem to 

 bring within the house something of the freedom 

 of out-door life. 



And to the city-bound lover of nature a pe- 

 culiar satisfaction is yielded by the few objects 

 which help to link his sympathies with his daily 

 experience. That nightly certain stars sent into 



36 



