WIIITE-THROATED SPxVRROW. 43 



During the warmer days, they remove partially to the woods, but 

 never out of reach of their favourite briar thickets, ascend the tops of 

 hollies, or such other trees as are covered with tangled vines, and pick 

 either a berry or a winter grape. Their principal enemies in the day- 

 time, are the little Sparrow Hawk, the Slate-coloured or Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk, and above all, the Hen-harrier or Marsh Hawk. The latter 

 passes over their little coteries with such light wings, and so unlocked 

 for, that he seldom fails in securing one of them. 



No sooner does spring return, when our woods are covered with white 

 blossoms, in gay mimicry of the now melted snows, and the delighted eye 

 is attracted by the beautiful flowers of the Dog-wood tree, than the 

 White-throated Sparrow bids farewell to these parts, not to return till 

 winter. Where it spends the summer I know not, but I should think 

 not within the States. 



It is a plump bird, fattening almost to excess, whilst in Louisiana, 

 and affords deUcious eating, for which purpose many are killed with 

 blow-guns. These instruments — shovild you not have seen them — are 

 prepared by the Indians, who cut the straightest canes, perforating them 

 by forcing a hickery rod through the internal partitions which intersect 

 this species of bamboo, and render them quite smooth within by j^assing the 

 rod repeatedly through. The cane is then kept perfectly straight, and is 

 well dried, after which it is ready for use. Splints of wood, or more fre- 

 quently of cane, are then worked into tiny arrows, quite sharp at one end, 

 and at the other, instead of being feathered, covered with squirrel hair or 

 other soft substances, in the manner of a bottle-brush, so as to fill the 

 tube and receive the impulse imparted by a smart puff of breath, which 

 is sufficient to propel such an arrow with force enough to kill a small 

 bird at the distance of eight or ten paces. With these blow-guns or 

 pipes, several species of birds are killed in large quantities ; and the 

 Indians sometimes procure even squirrels by means of them. 



The Dog-wood, of whicia I have represented a twig in early spring, 

 is a small tree found nearly throughout the Union, but generally prefer- 

 ring such lands as with us are called of second quahty, although it occa- 

 sionally makes its appearance in the richest alluvial deposits. Its height 

 seldom exceeds twenty feet, or its diameter ten inches. It is scarcely 

 eVer straight to any extent, but the wood, being extremely hard and com- 

 pact, is useful for turning, when well dried and free of wind-shakes, to 

 which it is rather liable. Its berries are eaten by various species of birds, 



