laid by different birds, so varied are eggs that are nearly equal in width and 



they in appearance. Some eggs are light breadth. 



blue or green and almost immaculate ; A large series of Crows' eggs in my 



others are heavily spotted, speckled or collection shows remarkable contrasts in 



blotched with different shades of brown size; ranging from one and fifty-eight 



and olive, and often the markings are so hundredths to one and seventy-three 



dense as to almost conceal the back- hundredths inches long, by one and fif- 



ground. The specimens vary in shape, teen to one and twenty-two hundredths 



from extremely long and narrow ones, to inches wide. 



Gerard Alan Abbott. 



THE CHICADEE'S SPRING SONG— "PHOEBE." 



What mean you, Lady Chicadee, 



Changing your name capriciously ? 



When your true lover calls today 



He does not call in the old way. 



Hark ! hear him now : "Phoebe ! Phoebe !" 



Perhaps you like that name the best, 



And will not answer save when he. 

 With throbbing throat and swelling breast. 



Calls you, and oh ! so lovingly ! 



By your new name, "Phoebe ! Phoebe !" 



At least I saw you come today, 



You darling Lady Chicadee, 

 When from the tree-bole, plaintively 



Rose that enticing melody, 



So tender-sweet, "Phoebe ! Phoebe !" 



What yearning in that simple call, 



Clear as an angel's song might be, 

 And yet not all a joy, not all. 



As if he knew that love must be 



Partly a pain, poor Chicadee ! 



O yes ! I surely saw you drop. 



Shoot downward from the maple tree. 

 And stand beside him e'er he stopped 



(Yon coy young-lady Chicadee), 



Calling your name, "Phoebe ! Phoebe !" 



Nay ! never think I meant to chide 



Because you answered speedily, 

 You precious little black-capped bride ! 



I should have gone had he called me 



In that persuasive way, Phoebe. 



— Nelly Hart Wood worth. 



219 



