the reedy marshes and swamps resound with its melodious con-cur-ee. The Catbirds 

 in the thickets of the road-side, the Brown Thrushes in the white-thorn bushes, the 

 Swamp Sparrows on the bushy edge of low meadows, the Robins in the maples, and 

 the gorgeous Baltimore Orioles among the beautiful arching elms, all sing their jubila- 

 tion hymns. Among the white pines and birches of a narrow ravine the enchanting song 

 of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Veery falls on our ear. Everywhere merty bird- 

 life prevails. In the tamarack swamps huckle and cranberry bushes, the red osier*, the 

 kinnickinnik^, and the black haw^ are in full flower, while the woodland's edge seems 

 to be transformed into masses of rosy-white by the flowering wild crab-trees. White- 

 thorns are also in bloom. In the rich forest soil the stemless and the yellow 4ady's 

 slipper^ and many other delicate plants are in blossom. The flowering time of the first- 

 named species is almost over when the yellow lady's slipper comes in bloom. The dense 

 thickets of juniper and young white pines fill the air with a strong aromatic fragrance. 

 We are in that portion of Wisconsin where the coniferous woods begin to extend north- 

 ward. At present only small remnants of the once so majestic forest primeval are left. 

 Most of the land is under cultivation. This undulating and often hilly country is very 

 rich in beautiful localities, in rivers, lakes, swamps, and springs. When w^e are reaching 

 the summit of a slightly sloping hill a few miles west of Sheboygan, a beautiful pano- 

 rama spreads before our eyes. Turning to the -west we see hills and forests, and before 

 our view^ extend the deep blue w^aters of Lake Michigan under a brilliant sky, the w^aves 

 sparkling in the bright sunlight like millions of mirrors. Like an endless wall this 

 beautiful sheet of water lies before us, dotted here and there with sailing vessels and 

 steamboats. 



In this region, fifteen or twenty years ago, the southern border line of the summer 

 home of the Purple Finch w^as found. The pine region, especially where it alternates 

 with fields, gardens, meadows, and pastures, is this bird's natural summer home. It 

 does not breed in the dense w^oods. Formerly, when the original forest had not yet 

 been touched by the devastating hand of man, the Purple Finches were not seen or 

 heard among the gigantic white pines, beeches, oaks, and maples. Only later, when 

 the woods gave place to fields and orchards, these birds began to settle in larger num- 

 bers. In my boyhood, about thirty years ago, only a few of these beautiful birds were 

 seen in the newly settled places. They were, however, very common in fall when the 

 hemp and sunflower ripened their seed. But since that time a great change has taken 

 place. Orchards and shade trees have been planted, and beautiful specimens of spruces, 

 firs, pines, and cedars are a great ornament around the houses. Horse chestnuts and 

 even catalpas, never seen in the days of my youth, are now often met. I left my birth 

 place and the State in 1869, but my friend. Miss Hedwig Schlichting, resided there until 

 1885. A great lover of nature, she carefially watched the change that took place since 

 our school time. In her beautifiil garden at Howard's Grove a large number of rare 

 shrubs, trees, and flowers flourished, and even primulas and auriculas, so precarious in 

 almost all parts of this country, grew luxuriantly and in great abundance. All our 

 common garden birds were present. The Purple Finch also made its appearance in the 

 fruit trees and evergreens of the garden and in the thickets of white pines near the 



1 Cornus stoloalfera. * C. serlcea, 3 Viburnum prunifollum, < Cypripedivm ucaule find C. pubescens. 



