AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



A FAVORITE HAUNT. 



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HILDREN as a rule, 



especially those born 



and raised in the rural 



districts, have some 



favorite haunt where 



they especially delight 



to spend their time and 



where certain pleasant associations 



are formed, the memory of which is 



treasured in after years. 



The writer was no exception to this 

 rule, and I will endeavor to describe 

 a certain "Deserted Limestone Quarry, " which, in my case, was 

 the favorite haunt of childhood. A perusal of the following will give 

 my readers an idea of the general appearance of the locality. In the 

 centre was a large pond of deep water, bounded on three sides by 

 steep banks, partially covered by huge rocks and sandstone boulders. 

 On the fourth side was a cart road leading to the double stone lime 

 kiln, then out of use. The south bank was bordered by a piece of 

 woodland, through which ran a little brook, and the other three sides 

 by pasture fields. Within the deep gulch, and extending around about 

 two thirds of the body of water, was a combined cart road and pathway, 

 at the extreme end of which, lying under two large, over-hanging 

 rocks, was a spring of most delicious water. It was quite deep, yet so 

 clear that you could see the white sand and pebbles at the bottom very 

 plainly. Around the edges of the spring grew a choice variety of 

 cress. Hanging from the banks above mentioned were numerous 

 sumach bushes and blackberry briars. Such were the natural surround- 

 ings of my favorite haunt. A charming place indeed; where marvel- 

 ous blending of light and shade intermingled colors: — the rich green of 

 the mosses and ferns; the dark gray of the rocks, with patches of 

 lichens here and there, and the beautiful reflection in the water made 

 by the surrounding forest trees. 



Now a few words regarding the many bird friends with which I 

 associated, and whose habits and daily lives I studied. In one of the 

 steep banks referred to, a pair of Kingfishers made their burrow, but 

 in a place where it was inaccessible; however, I noticed them flying in 

 and out of the opening and the probabilities are that a family was rais- 

 ed there. Within the lime kiln a pair of Pewees built their nest among 

 the old logs composing the structure, and they could be seen almost 



