AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 233 



CHARACTERISTIC INITIALS. 



What are these birds whose initials appear in capitals below, and 

 whose songs, colors or habits are thus described. 



1. Beautiful Whistler. 

 . 2. Noted Slayer. 



3. Bright Orange. 



4. Sweet Singer. 



5. Merry Lays. 



6. Most Doleful. 



Marietta Washburn, 



Goodwin, S. D. 



AN HOUR GLASS. 



00X00 To move hastily. 

 0X0 A human being. 



X A consonant. 

 0X0 What all boys like. 

 00x00 A favorite sweet. 

 Centrals read downward spell the name of one of the most cheerful 

 songsters. Marietta Washburn. 



WHAT IS HIS NAME ? 



Once upon a time, (a time not far from April 27th) the T. M. went 

 forth to seek their fortunes, and met a fairy magician, who was also a 

 ■fairy musician. Do you know what "T. M." signifies? 



It does not refer to the mince pies which the old lady marked T. M., 

 "tis mince, and T. M., 'taint mince, of which one writer tells us. The 

 mystic letters in this case simply stand for "Three Maidens," who 

 "herewith bring you a glimpse from one morning's delightful outing. 



One charm of an outing afield is the uncertainty which attends it. It 

 is a species of gambling. You may meet with thrilling experiences, or 

 you may see nothing new, but simply gain a broader horizon, the roses 

 of health, and "the good digestion which waits on appetite," prizes not 

 ±0 be despised. On this bright April morning the T. M. had the good 

 fortune to meet with a gay little sprite in feathers, (but a quarter of an 

 inch longer than a humming bird) who had stopped in Waterbury for a 

 flying visit on its way to its Canada home. Its coat was olive gray, 

 lightened to yellow when touched by the sun's rays; its vest was a 

 soft yellowish gray; its bill. was black, and its wings were trimmed 

 ^th white. 



