abundance. In this part of northern 

 Ohio, where the species is not more 

 than fairly common, the birds rarely 

 enter the villages, and they nest almost 

 exclusively in the woods. I am in- 

 formed that farther south and west 

 they are often seen in villages, and 

 nest there in boxes provided, as well 

 as in the woods. 



The nest is placed within a box or 

 hollow in a tree, a deserted woodpeck- 

 er's hole being preferred, where 

 leaves, strips of bark, feathers, hair, or 

 almost any soft, warm materials are 

 arranged carefully, the coarser material 

 outward, the finer and warmer inside. 

 The eggs range from five to eight in 

 number, and are creamy white, rather 



coarsely and evenly marked with 

 shades of rufoas brown. They aver- 

 age about .73X.54 of an inch. It is 

 said that the male bird never assists in 

 building the nest, but sings to cheer 

 his mate, thus revealing the where- 

 abouts of the nest. 



While the northern Ohio woods are 

 incomplete without a company of these 

 cheerful birds, I have looked in vain 

 for them during the early summer 

 months in some years. In winter they 

 range the woods for food, penetrating 

 to every portion of it, stowing them- 

 selves away in some warm hollow in a 

 tree at night, but in the nesting season 

 they are confined to the region of the 

 nest, and so are not readily seen. 



EPITAPH ON THE HARE. 



Here lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue. 

 Nor swifter greyhound follow. 



Whose foot ne er tainted morning dew, 

 Nor ear heard huntsman's halloo. 



Old Tiney, surliest of his kind. 

 Who, nursed with tender care. 



And to domestic bounds confined, 

 Was still a wild Jack hare. 



Though duly from my hand he took 



His pittance every night. 

 He did it with a jealous look. 



And, when he could, would bite. 



His diet was of wheaten bread. 

 And milk, and oats, and straw; 



Thistles, or lettuces instead, 

 With sand to scour his maw. 



On twigs of hawthorn he regaled. 



On pippin's russet peel, 

 And, when his juicy salads failed. 



Sliced carrot pleased him well. 



A Turkey carpet was his lawn. 

 Whereon he loved to bound. 



To skip and gambol like a fawn. 

 And swing his rump around. 



His frisking was at evening hours. 



For then he lost his fear. 

 But most before approaching showers 



Or when a storm was near. 



Eight years and five round rolling moons 



He thus saw steal away. 

 Dozing out all his idle noons, 



And every night at play. 



I kept him for his humor's sake. 



For he would oft beguile 

 My heart of thoughts that made it ache. 



And force me to a smile. 



But now beneath his walnut shade 

 He finds his long last home. 



And waits, in snug concealment laid. 

 Till gentler Puss shall come. 



He, still more aged, feels the shocks 

 From which no care can save. 



And, partner once of Tiney's box. 

 Must soon partake his grave. 



— Cowper. 



