The February Walk Contest 



WE have been delighted with the interest aroused by our 

 request for descriptions of February walks, and in imagi- 

 nation have enjoyed outings throughout a large part of the 

 United States with our little correspondents. 



We have found ourselves obliged to give two prizes, one of 

 which goes to Mildred A. Robinson, of Walthani, Massachusetts, 

 whose essay will appear in our next number ; the other to Floyd C. 

 Noble, of New York City, whose description of a walk in Central 

 Park appears in this issue of Bird-Lore. 



Much to his surprise, the Editor found that he was competing 

 for the prize he himself had offered ! He had written an account 

 of some Central Park birds for this department before Master Noble's 

 article was received, and is obliged to confess that Master Noble men- 

 tions several species which he had not observed. He, therefore, 

 presents only that part of his manuscript relating to the Chickadee, 

 and leaves Master Noble to tell of the other birds in the Park. 



The selection of the winning essays was made with much diffi- 

 culty, and, in addition to the two chosen, we would especially com- 

 mend those written by the following named boys and girls : 



Philip Baker, Indianapolis, Ind. : Harriet J. Benton, New Bedford, Mass. ; Zelda 

 Brown, Yuma, Ariz. ; Donald Bruce, East Hampton, Mass. ; Walter S. Chansler, 

 Bicknell, Ind.; Marion Flagg, go Washington St., Hartford, Conn. ; Charles B. Floyd, 

 Brookline, Mass. ; Kathryn Gibbs, Kalamazoo, Mich. ; Albert Linton, Moorestown, 

 N. J. ; Clara T. Magee, Moorestown, N. J. ; George S. Mac Nider, Chapel Hill, N. C. ; 

 Barnard Powers, Melrose, Mass. : Elden Smith, Milville, Mass. ; Lydia Sharpless, 

 Haverford, Pa. — Ed. 



A February Walk in Central Park, New York 



• ■• BY FLOYD C. NOBLE 



(Ageil 14 ye.-irs) 



N February 18, 1899, my friend and I started out 

 •bird-hunting.' as usual, in the 'Ramble,' Central 

 Park. It was during the comparatively warm spell 

 after the blizzard of the 12th, and the preceding zero 

 weather. On the way we saw a Starling, perched high 

 on a building, trying to sing. On entering the Park we 

 saw a White-throated Sparrow. I have seen this species 

 more times than any other this month — of course, except- 

 ing the common Sparrow. 

 On nearing our ' hunting-grounds,' we heard the familiar ' tn-c-c' 

 of a Brown Creeper, and soon discovered the little fellow hard at 

 work, as usual. A little later we came upon the beautiful Cardinal, 

 with his two wives. It is a fact that there are one male and two 



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