﻿122 FIELD AND FOREST. 



of its destruction it measured 40 feet in height, 13^ in circumfer- 

 ence at base of trunk, and 12^ in circumference where it broke off, 

 ten feet from the ground. Its branches spread 60 feet, three of them 

 measuring each 5 feet in circumference. 



The trunks had for a great many years been hollow, three grown 

 boys standing inside with ease, the cutting off of two lower limbs giv- 

 ing an easy entrance. Thick ribs of new bark upon the trunk, seemed 

 to give necessary support to its massive branches, the foliage of which 

 was so heavy that an ordinary shower did not wet the ground under- 

 neath. 



The Beebox was also a prolific bearer ; it fell heavily ladened with 

 fruit, and two years before, 17 barrels had been picked from it, no 

 measurement being made of those that fell, or were left upon the tree. 

 The apples were of medium size, and a pleasent sour. 



The tree trunk still stands, converted during the summer months 

 into an immense garden rose, where flowers and vines grow in the 

 most luxuriant manner. — M. P. S. 



A Congress of Birds. — The congregation of different species of 

 birds in one place for mutual protection and perhaps for company, is 

 not an uncommon phenomenon but I have never seen it more clearly 

 exemplified than on yesterday. I had been roving about for 

 several hours through the many finely wooded tracts that line the 

 banks of Rock Creek in the vicinity of Washington and Georgetown, 

 and was remarking the uncommon silence and absence of life that 

 reigned there, when suddenly I came upon what seemed a flock of 

 birds. Some were in the trees, others on the ground or on logs and 

 moving about among the scanty underbrush. Supposing them to be 

 all of one kind, I hastened to determine what birds they were. The 

 first ones identified were Robins, but I soon observed that there were 

 others that were smaller. These I saw to be Blue-birds ; then I espied 

 some crests and was able to approch near enough to several Cedar-birds 

 to see the wax on their wings; rustling among the dried leaves near by 

 were a number of Hermit Thrushes ( Tardus pallasii) ; numerous snow- 

 birds next made themselves obtrusive as also one Sparrow ; hopping 

 about on the trunks of the trees were plainly seen three or four Wood- 

 peckers {Sphyrapicus varius). These were all I was able positively 

 to identify, but there were reasons for thinking that still other species 



