THE OOLOGIST. 



39 



branch to branch and 1 think many are 

 already ma ed. The multitude of Blue- 

 birds that were here on tue 25th have 

 passed on north and spread out to the 

 hillsides. Considerable snow in woods 

 and piotected places. Lake is frozen 

 over with about 12 inches of ico. 



March 31. — While strolling along the 

 street before breakfast I ran onto a lit- 

 tle troop of Chickedees. As I watched 

 them as they hung back down, or, in 

 other words, "bottom side up," one lit- 

 tle fellow caught sight of a branch of 

 the maple that was leaking sap, and 

 with every indication of having found a 

 "fountain of youth" the Chickadee flew 

 to where the sap was dripping and 

 drank and drank with an eagerness 

 equal to an old toper taking his morn- 

 ing "eye opener," then he "chick-a-dee- 

 deed" and from across the street came 

 two more of these black-capped topers 

 who drank the sweet juice, and uttered 

 those low notes that sound so far away. 

 April 1.— Beautiful clear day, but icy 

 N. wind. I spent tbe day around on 

 the lowlands, enjoying the hosts of 

 Song Sparrows, Robins, Red-wings, 

 Purple Finches and a few Meadow- 

 larks. I heard a Phoebe for first time, 

 and I wonder what such a bird can live 

 on now when it is so cold, with ice and 

 snow and no flying insects. Although 

 I've seen a Bronzed Grackle several 

 time', today is the first time that I've 

 heard him tuning up the wires of his 

 "iEolean harp." Robins are mated and 

 looking for suitable nesting places. 



April 2 — Blackbirds are here in 

 abundance, especially at night, when 

 large flocks of Red-wings, Co wbirds and 

 Grackles come in from the fields, alight 

 ing ia tree top around swamp and pour 

 forth their £cngs and notes in rich pro- 

 f I sion, 



April 3.— For several dajs a small 



flock of Ducks has been feedinr? in the 



creek and today I noted a pair of Wood 



Ducks and several Mallards. 



April 5. — The graceful Tree Swallows 



came yesterday— about a &< zen of them 

 — and tbi-^ morning they were skimming 

 over the thin paper ice along the edge 

 of swamp and lake 



April 8.— It has been bright and clear 

 all day with a cold north wind, which 

 drove the ice out of this end of the lake. 

 A new flock of Grackles arrived from 

 the south at 7 a. m. Those that have 

 been here are building nests in almost 

 every evergreen tree in town. I have 

 never seen the town so full of them, in- 

 deed, the mischievous great glossy fel- 

 lows seem to really erjoy town life 

 more than any other bird I know. 



A small band of Slate-colored Juceos 

 are staying in the evergreen trees that 

 adorn some yards. During a short 

 walk in the woods I saw several Crows 

 carrying nesting material. On my way 

 heme noted first Mourning Doves. 

 Bird life h^re in the valley is abundant, 

 but tho woods are silent as the "tomb— 

 except for cawing Crows and the 

 lonesome notes of the White-breasted 

 Nuthatches, o About 75 Ducks passed on 

 north this p. m. 



April 13.— This evening I took a walk 

 along swamp, listening to the full 

 chorus of peepers. They were heard 

 first on the 6th. As I stood on the 

 bridge 1 heard Snipe makiug a sort of 

 short, mewing noise,, as they flew by 

 me just overhead, and I also heard the 

 whistle of many wings as a flock of 

 "Whistle-wings" went on north in the 

 gathering gloom. 



This p. m. a few Tree Spar- 

 rows came into the willows along tbe 

 swamp road and one seemed to be in 

 nearly full song, at least he burst forth 

 in as sweet a strain as ever I heard 

 from a Sparrow's ihroat. A pair of 

 Loons arrived last night, also a great 

 flock of American Herring Gulls, but 

 they passed on north at sunrise. A 

 Great Blue Heron sailed in from the 

 north and spent the day fishing around 

 the swamp. Yesterday a big Osprey 



