64 THE RETURN OF THE NATIVES. 



fully the crow-foots and smaller Solomon's-seal 

 have managed to force themselves upon your 

 notice until to-day, when the warm sun has com- 

 manded them to rise up and flaunt their red and 

 green banners above the walls and ramparts of 

 their fortress ! 



It is a time, too, for the singing of birds ; each 

 day brings some new arrival ; the hardy finches 

 long since appeared, but the interesting families of 

 wood-warblers must needs wait until now, when 

 crawling and flying insects abound to furnish them 

 with proper food. 



Walking by some willows that fringe a stream, 

 I come upon a flock of well-dressed strangers, — 

 some g olden-rum ped warblers that are flitting rest- 

 lessly here and there among the branches; their 

 coats are bluish-gray, streaked with black, each 

 having a single yellow button behind, and sleeves 

 trimmed with yellow lace ; a crown of gold adorns 

 their heads ; their vests are black, in striking con- 

 trast to the immaculate bosoms. After a fort- 

 night's sojourn here, they will pass northward to 

 the Canadas, where they will spend the summer 

 season. Their manner of catching insects is simi- 

 lar to the tyrants', but the flight is not so pro- 

 longed, nor do they return to the same post of 



