A Bouquet of Song Birds 



— three or four in a single tree — a species that 

 is locally quite abundant on both sides of the 

 river at this point. The indigo bird, less glar- 

 ing, but hardly less intense in color, fluttered 

 along the path ; and the hooded warbler was 

 flitting low from bush to bush, and incessantly 

 spreading his white-spotted tail. The black- 

 and-white creeper was everywhere — a deceptive 

 fellow in his variety of notes, until one has 

 learned his tricks. It would almost seem that 

 he is sportively mocking the listener, as one 

 hears his frequent change of tune. A pair of 

 complaining veerys — not so abundant here as 

 at West Englewood — an occasional Maryland 

 yellow-throat, oven-bird, chewink, the red- 

 eyed and the yellow-throated vireos, were the 

 species that chiefly beguiled the way — twenty- 

 six varieties of companionship in what some 

 might have called a lonesome, unentertaining 

 trip — to say nothing of the shy glances of in- 

 numerable violet eyes, the nodding flames of 

 columbine, bright skies, and a panoramic 

 scene along the river. Such views inform the 

 mind and mould the soul as well, and some- 

 times better than all books can do. To one 

 that has a heart for such a walk, there is no 

 solitude in Nature. 



25 



