THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 259 
OREGON BIRDS IN MIDWINTER 
By Everett Earte Stranarp, Brownsville, Oregon. 
The air is bitter chill tonight, 
And early will the dark come down; 
At four o’clock the little light 
Fades fast on hills about the town. 
Outside my window, flitting there, 
Are flocks of hungry winter birds; 
Their bits of song and cheery words 
Float in upon the frosty air. 
Beside my double window here 
Is built the crumb-board. Yonder lies 
The garden weeds of yester-year— 
Seeds hidden there that all birds prize. 
The evergreen so near at hand, 
Provides a thick and certain shelter; 
When sudden dark storms strike the land, 
The birds make thither, helter-skelter. 
Is it not good to contemplate 
This peaceful scene? The towhee there 
Anxiously calls his pink-eyed mate. 
The dusky sparrow finds his share 
Of leaves to rustle. Juncoes utter 
Their tiny notes, their sharps, their trebles, 
While English sparrows rise and flutter 
Into the hedge-row—boisterous rebels! 
That band of winter revelers, 
All midge-like in the high trees dancing, 
Blithe lisping woodland worshippers, 
Gay bits of color, gleaming, glancing— 
Brown creeper and smart chickadee, 
And kinglet, piping notes ecstatic, 
They hasten by, gone is their glee, 
And curious frolic acrobatic. 
The silence lingers when they go. 
I set the evening lamp alight; 
And in the vines outside, I know, 
Full many a bird is housed tonight. 
Now has the daylight flickered out, 
Safe in the fir my winter birds; | 
A few small twitters—good-night words, 
And peace has lapped the world about. 
DEER INCREASING IN EASTERN OREGON 
By Warpen Rost. H. Younce. 
That the deer are increasing in Eastern Oregon is evident by the 
remarkable kills that some of our sportsmen have made in Morrow 
and Gilliam Counties this year. It is imposible for me to give the 
exact number of bucks that were killed, but from the reports there 
- were more killed this year than last, and several hunters made use 
of their tags. Mr. Oscar Maley, of Condon, got the limit of big buck 
in one hunt. - s 
