AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 155 



from their winter sojourn. Then and during the summer their temple 

 is covered with a beautiful mantle of the richest green; their carpet 

 {the dead leaves of past years) is sprinkled with thousands of choice 

 wild blossoms; they have a canopy above of the purest blue; their 

 whole surroundings are one harmonious blending of beauty, happiness, 

 sunshine and song. At this time of year you are likely to meet the 

 following members and their wives: Goldfinch, Indigo bird, Caro- 

 lina Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Robin, Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, 

 Cuckoo, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Vireo, Flicker, Blue Jay, Oven 

 bird, Maryland Yellow-throat, Least Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Wood 

 Pewee and some of the Warblers. An interesting feature is that near- 

 ly all of the above members established their homes in the immediate 

 vicinity. This was a season of concerts and activity among the feath- 

 ered citizens. Old homes had to be repaired, new homes built, and a 

 regular overhauling of things in general. This daily walk through the 

 Morning Cheer temple was the source of untold pleasure and profit, 

 and served to lighten the burdens of the day; many pleasant observa- 

 tions and discoveries were hastily made, to be thought over and enjoy- 

 ed later at the busy city office, and throughout the course of the day I 

 ■seemed to hear the echo of their early songs of gladness, as the glori- 

 ous sun rose higher in the heavens and their little coats were yet wet 

 with the sparkling dew of the morning. 



For quite a while this condition of affairs remained pretty much the 

 same; there was the daily greeting of my little friends; the ceaseless 

 volume of countless songs, and the rush and hurry of household affairs. 

 Throughout the months of July and August, however, this era of activ- 

 ity and song daily grew less marked, until finally the only members, 

 who exercised their vocal powers to any great extent, were the Indigo 

 birds, Goldfinches and Vireos, with perhaps a few notes from the 

 Carolina Wren early in the morning. These continued their song all 

 through the mid-summer days of heat and idleness; especially the In- 

 digo bird — morning after morning as" I passed by, he could be seen on 

 the topmost twig of a tall tree, pouring forth the sweetest little song. 



Birds, like ourselves, seem to require a season of rest and retirement 

 irom the field of action, after the labors of nest building and the care 

 .and anxiety of rearing their little familes for the year. They are not 

 made simply to sing; they have their work to do, and their lives are 

 •crowded with joy and sorrow, sunshine and shadow, much like the hu- 

 man life. 



Berton Mercer. 



