VESPER SPARROW. 95 



sunny, and warm ones. During fair weather the lovely Bluebirds are peering into the 

 nesting boxes provided for them, warbling cheerfully their familiar strain. The next 

 day, however, it may happen, that the air is cold and snow covers the ground, while 

 they soar around in wayward flight, uttering rather sad and sorrowful notes. The 

 Robins do not feel the inclemency of the weather so much. Their jubilant songs 

 are heard from the tall elms and maples. The Song Sparrow pours forth its sweet 

 notes in every hedge and thicket. The exhilerating sensation of the first warm April 

 day fills the soul of the friend of nature with joy and hope. Not long after the advent 

 of the feathered messengers of spring the first woodland flowers open their delicate 

 petals. Among, aind sometimes under the old leaves and pine needles the modest and 

 yet so beautifial and fragrant trailing arbutus bursts into bloom, and in certain localities 

 the snowy trillium* is the first flower we find. In some places, especially on dry hills 

 and prairies, the showy pasque-flower" grows in great profusion. But it is not until 

 late in April, that we may look for variety and wealth of the spring flora. While 

 rambling through the woods in Sheboygan Co., Wisconsin, on April 24, 1894, I found 

 in the sunny woodland border some places yellow with the bright lily-like blossoms of 

 the dog's-tooth violet', while near by, in a somewhat moister place, the ground was 

 covered with the spring beauty^, its white or rosy flowers pencilled with red, being very- 

 conspicuous. Everywhere the hepatica® was present, and its dainty blue blossoms were 

 more suggestive of spring than any other flower. The blood-root ' grew in great pro- 

 fusion in the rich soil, unfolding its large rolled-up leaves and its snowy white blooms. 

 All these low flowers on a background of beautiful leaves are the gems of the wood- 

 land in a marvelous setting. Here and there I found bunches of twin-leaf, a peculiar 

 as w^ell as beautiful plant, though the white flower, like that of the blood-root, is verx- 

 ephemeral. The large white trillium or wake-robin' was fast pushing up its three leaves 

 with the flower bud in the center. When w^alking hyme in the dusk of evening I passed 

 large moist meadows yellow with marsh-marigolds®, and in peaty and springy places 

 the gigantic leaves of the skunk-cabbage'" were growing vigorously. Once started, the 

 wild spring flowers succeed one another in astounding rapidity, and many of them are 

 worthy of a conspicuous place in the garden. Pew realize the poetry, charm, and 

 richness of our native flora. Comparatively few are familiar with its infinite grace and 

 beauty in its chosen haunts, and the same holds true of our beautiful native birds. 

 While walking through the lane I frequently saw a gray bird dusting itself and 

 running ahead, occasionally stopping, as if to rest, and then alighting on a fence post or 

 a board. While flying, the tail was spread, and several white tail-feathers became visible. 

 The w^hole or partial w^hiteness of the outer tail-feathers, always noticeable as the bird 

 flies, renders this exceedingly common bird easily recognizable. Although one of our 

 most abundant songsters, it is frequently confounded w^ith other Sparrows, notably the 

 Song Sparrow, but, if this characteristic is kept in mind, it can always readily be 

 distinguished. At this time of the day, soon before night-fall, the exquisite song is 

 heard on all sides until darkness. The country people call this harbinger of spring the 



» Trillium nivale. ' Anemone patens var. Nuttaliana. s Brytbronium americaaum. * Claytonia virginica. 

 s Hepatica triloba. * Sanguinaria canadensis, i Jeffersonia diphylla. « Trillium grandiSorum. a Caltba palastris. 

 • * Symplocarpus faetidus. 



