234 



Bird- Lore 



the average of the past eight years. I 

 had anticipated and expected seeing them 

 two weeks earlier. The American Rough- 

 legged Hawk and the Northern Shrike 

 were prompt in leaving on time, while the 

 Mountain Bluebird was late in arriving, 

 both in the outskirts and in the parks and 

 city. All these remarks are based purely 

 on my own personal observations and 

 records, which might easily conflict with 

 those of someone who had more time and 

 opportunity for field work. The gist of all 

 these remarks is that birds which I had 

 looked for early arrived on time, or perhaps 

 a little late, while species which I thought 

 would leave for the North early, departed 

 as usual, hence my opening paragraph. 



While driving about in the outskirts 

 of the city on April 3, during a fairly heavy 

 snowstorm, I was surprised to see several 

 different flocks of Robins, at different 

 times, migrating northward, despite the 

 storm. It is probable that the storm was 



purely local, producing little, if any, effect 

 on the birds as they traveled north. A 

 heavy, extended snowstorm does otherwise: 

 on April 9, 1913, the weather in Denver 

 was ideal, and we had our usual number of 

 Robins in our parks, but that night there 

 occurred a heavy snowfall extending over a 

 large area adjacent to Denver, and the 

 next day was clear and cloudless. The 

 city was found, at daylight, to be full of 

 Robins. They remained all day in the 

 city, began leaving shortly after sunset 

 that night, and one could hear them call- 

 ing, as they winged away, until late in the 

 evening — in fact I heard them from my 

 sleeping-porch until nearly midnight. The 

 next day Denver's Robin population was 

 again at its normal level. 



The mild weather here in March seemed 

 to accelerate the nesting of three species: 

 the Pine Siskin (March 22), the House 

 Finch (March 24), and the Robin (April 

 i). — W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



TO AN UNSEEN SINGER 



(Acrostic) 



Why do you tempt me when I may not come? 

 Have you no heart beneath that liquid voice. 

 Insistent singer? Do you e'en rejoic.e, 

 Persisting when the sleeping world is dumb? 



Persuade me not to try to find your home! 

 Oh leave me to my work, for tho' my choice, 

 O Temptress, were to follow you, the price 

 Restrains me. Go, whence-ever you may come! 



Would you be quieted, or louder call 

 If I should tell you that I toss, awake, 

 List'ning to catch your song across the brake — 

 Losing e'en that, and sleeping not at all? 



— Joseph Gavit 



