THE LOON. 43 



though the trees are hardly leaved, the Pewee has repair- 

 ed its old nest or built anew, in its favorite summer re- 

 sort. The Swallows twitter gaily as they sail over the 

 meadows and the Winter Wren hops unconcernedly 

 through the dead brush to our right. As we turn our 

 head to more carefully observe him we notice a chipping 

 sparrow, minus the head, impaled on the broken limb of 

 a plum tree near by and know that the Shrike has per- 

 haps laid by a meal. A handsome and showy bird alights 

 in the tree above and announces himself with a loud 

 ''ehee-ah'' as the Flicker; but catching sight of us, in a 

 moment he is gone. Aroused at last from our reverie 

 we retrace our steps homeward, our thoughts elevated 

 by the contemplation of these objects to him, who, 



With consummate skill devised the plan 

 That creation's every voice should whisper 



Words of peace, and joy, and hope to man. 



NOTES FROM MICHIGAN. 



BY WALTER WOOD. 



Thinking that a few extracts from my note book would 

 be interesting to the readers of The Loon I send the 

 following: 



1887, March 18th.— Visited five last year Blue-birds 7 

 nests. At ©ne of these I noticed a Blue -bird tugging at 



