i86 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



ing branches. The Meadow Larks also were fl^nng to and fro and 

 occasionally one would mount the tip of a tall tree and pour out the 

 fullness of his joy in sweet song. Leaving the swamp and passing on 

 to another portion of the meadow where there were two or three large 

 oak trees and considerable undergrowth, I observed a number of Gold 

 Finches in a bunch of alders and they were calling to each other 

 "dearie dearie," in most loving terms; what a pretty contrast — their 

 rich black and bright yellow mingling with the vivid green of the young 

 leaves. On a fence post near by, sat a little House Wren, and he was 

 fairly bubbling over with song and motion, while Mr. Chat up in the 

 oak tree would feign have you believe there were a dozen or more vo- 

 calists there instead of one. It is truly amusing to watch the droll 

 actions of these birds and to liste i to their wonderful mimicry. The 

 Brown Thrasher was also in evidence and endeavored to rival the Chat 

 in the variation of his song. I next heard "Chebeck, Chebeck" com- 

 ing from a tree near by, and while I could not catch a sight of the bird, 

 I knew it to be one of the smaller Flycatchers. Barn Swallows and 

 Chimney Swallows were circling in the air, and a pair of Flickers raised 

 serious objections as the writer came near to an old maple tree in which 

 they, had their nest — the top being decayed and broken away. 



The cheery call of the Maryland Yellow-throats resounded on every 

 hand and the low bushes and sedges along the run were fairly alive 

 with flitting bits of bright color. While engaged in gathering some 

 wild flowers, the writer tried imitating their note and soon had a goodly 

 number of them near at hand, their curiosity getting the better of them. 

 A Cat Bird also came to say "good morning" and to announce that he 

 had but recently arrived from the South. 



From a woodland at some distance off, the sweet strains of the Wood 

 Thrush's morning hymn was wafted across the vale, and the clear, 

 rollicking song of the Carolina Wren came from the same source. I 

 also heard one single note of an Oriole but did not succeed in locating 

 it. Thus in about an hour's time during each of the morning walks in 

 question, I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to from twenty to 

 twenty-five different birds. All these feathered people will soon be se- 

 lecting their nest sites and engaged in building their little homes ac- 

 cording to their respective habits. Oh that everyone finding these 

 little homes — which are just as dear to the birds as our homes are to us 

 — would bear in mind that within each pretty q^^ are the possibilities 

 of a happy life and a cheering song; that each one taken or destroyed, 

 means a corresponding decrease in the number of wild birds which 

 should inhabit our woods, fields any waysides. blrton MtRciR 



