A Columbus Mid-winter Horizon. 17 



sion of Blue Jays than a gubernatorial staff under full sail. 

 The governor — dear man, the one sober, modest, capable per- 

 son in all the chaos of regalia, and noise, and aspiration — he 

 didn't miss me, much. Excited by reports of a winter bird 

 paradise off north-east, I set out at 9 a. m., in spite of a brisk 

 north wind and threatening snow, at a temperature of 21 

 Fahr. Arrayed in two sweaters and an incommunicable 

 number of trousers, I was determined to hold carnival with 

 the birds. I took oath to report them faithfully, and their 

 silent admiration was as flattering to my appreciative soul as 

 the applause of the gaping crowds down town could possi- 

 bly have been to his excellency. 



A romantic little ravine opening to the east off North 

 High street proved to be all that my father had reported it 

 in point of scenic interest. If one can fancy himself reduced 

 to the dimensions of a squirrel or a Cardinal,'the rugged out- 

 lines of the shale banks sustain the illusion of a wild gorge 

 in the mountains. The "run" winds about, too, in most de- 

 lightful fashion; so that as one rests in the last covert, near 

 the head, preparatory to emerging upon terra plana, one 

 may fancy that he has come a half day's journey in that half 

 mile, so perfectly has every feature of illusion been rendered 

 in minature. 



As I paused near the ravine's head to note a few common- 

 places, a Migrant Shrike rose from the ground of a briar tan- 

 gle hardby and settled near. He was visibly annoyed at the 

 intrusion; but I did not care for that until I had settled that 

 he bore no mark of vermiculation and was to all appearance 

 veritable migrans. He drew away reluctantly, and the cause 

 of his regret was manifest in a half-eaten English Sparrow 

 which he had purloined from a nearby gamin roost. Eat 

 thy fill, O Lanius, of our toothsome English friends. Let 

 thy conscience rest until some fledgling reformer, suffering 

 from ornithological strabismus announces a better use for 

 them. 



A ten-acre wood lot abutting upon three North Broadway 

 back-yards (unusually, but gratefully plebeian as to manure 



