THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 75 



were noticed, but Gillenia trifoliata had not come into blossom and 

 was difificult of detection -among the dense growth of shrubs and 

 briars ; however, the neat little Irid, Sisyrmchmm Bermudiana, was 

 found in flower, and also the wild Columbine, with Aneinofie 

 thaUch'oides and a few samples of Lithospei'muin Caiiescens, were in 

 an early stage of floral beauty. Sanicula Marylandica was noticed, 

 but only just showing blossom buds. Polvgala Seiiega and Helian- 

 themuni Cmiadense were two weeks more backward in growth than 

 at the same date in 1896. 



In the depth of the forest, a bird note was heard resembling 

 the solemn tolling of a distant church bell ; this was soon ascertained 

 to be one of the rare imitatory "calls" of the blue jay, and only a 

 woodsman of experience would have expected that bird capable of 

 producing such a musical sound, but doubtless the mellowing effect 

 of distance in the cloistered groves lent a charm to the tone. 



The notes of the Hermit Thrush, which have been scant this 

 year, were listened to with unfeigned delight on this occasion, and 

 the sylvan and silvery echoes of the "Veary" were conspicuous in 

 the evening ; also the reiterated " whittilee, whittilee, whittilee " of 

 the Maryland yelloiv-throat, and the loud, bold performance of the 

 Rose-breasted grossbeak were prominent among the bush oi-isons, as 

 was also the innuendo "zee, zee, zeeing" of the Canada warbler, 

 and in the willow scrub the "witch, witchow" (witch-witch, witchow) 

 of the Bay-breasted Warbler and other common finch notes added 

 to the concerted melody of the mid-June evening, on the home- 

 ward drive, winding up with the weird calls of the Caprimulgid?e, as 

 the shades of night came on, of which the so called Night Hawk 

 was one. 



At the home of a near neighbor there are regular nocturnal visits 

 from one or more Whip-poor-Wills, and these birds, perched on the 

 roof peak of an adjoining kitchen, voice their invective for hours 

 together in the moonlight intervals, and these vocalizations keep alive 

 rather sombre memorials in the minds of the human inhabitants of 

 the dweUing, as "poor Will" symbolizes in the language of affection 

 a missing member of the family who thirty-two years ago went away 

 to seek Dame Fortune in the far west, and of which son or brother 

 no tidings have for three decades been obtainable. The articulation 

 of these syllables by this moonlight disturber of the silent groves is 



