NATURAL HISTORY. 



397 



sition, either in the House or Senate, and 

 that it is sure to become a law. This will 

 be gratifying to every one who believes in 

 preserving the natural wonders of Amer- 

 ican scenery. 



Crater lake is not inferior to the Yellow- 

 stone or the Yosemite, in its great natural 

 beauty and its various scientific interests. 

 It is already attracting many tourists, and 

 when once made a National Park, it will 

 become one of the most popular resorts in 

 this country. 



The abundance of deer in the surround- 

 ing mountains and the nearness of Klamath 

 Lake rnd Williamson river, with their 

 splendid trout, will be additional attractions 

 to lovers of hunting and fishing. 



B. W. Evermann. 



NOTES. 



Mr. Anson Evans' water color word 

 painting of " The Pewee," in March Rec- 

 reation, is very pretty. Viewed, however, 

 as a contribution to ornithological science, 

 it is a shade too yellow. There are several 

 pewees. Mr. Evans names the bird he at- 

 tempts to describe, " pewee or phcebe bird 

 (Contopus vireus)." The phcebe's scientific 

 name is Sayiornis fusca. It is dull oliva- 

 ceous-brown; not "dove color." Its note 

 is " pe-wlt' phe'-be "; not " pee-wee! pee- 

 wee! pee-wit! " Eggs 4-5-6, normally pure 

 white, not " 3, murky white, a shade darker 

 at larger end." 



Not wishing to pose as an ornithological 

 Columbus, I admit having obtained my in- 

 formation from a fellow named Elliott 

 Coues, who is supposed to know a thing or 

 2 about birds. Mr. Evans should sit awhile 

 at the feet of the elders, and rest his imag- 

 inative powers. 



G. A. M., Pleasantville, N. Y. 



Wild hogs and deer are plentiful in the 

 forests here. There are also a few jaguars. 

 Parrots, pigeons, turkeys, etc., are numer- 

 ous along the river. In the lake are alliga- 

 tors and sharks. The river also has many 

 alligators. I have shot several and have 

 one good hide. Iguanas are plentiful; also 

 monkeys. 



Wm. Van Bushkirk, 

 San Juan River, Nicaragua. 



NO CHANCE FOR ESCAPE. 



Oh, birds! yours is a sorry lot — 



For if you 'scape the cats 

 The women-folks will have you shot 



To trim their Sunday hats. 



Mr. C. A. Rawlee, while out hunting for 

 minks, near the Paw Paw river, saw his 

 dog making a great fuss at an old tree. 

 On examination he found the tree hol- 

 low and plenty of mink tracks running 



from it to the river. Cutting a hole in the 

 tree, he saw something jumping about and 

 found 3 live fish. They had evidently been 

 caught by a mink and hidden for future 

 use. One was a sucker weighing about ^4 

 pound. The other 2 were trout of about 

 the same size. Mr. Rawlee cut the tree 

 down, hoping to find the mink in it, but was 

 disappointed. 



C. F. Dey, Lawton, Mich. 



SPRING. 



W. H. NELSON. 



The fleecy clouds across the sky 



Float past on airy wing, 

 And faintly fragrant flutters by 



The first sweet breath of spring. 

 'Tis laden with the scent of grass, 



The odor of the flowers, 

 The benediction — brief, alas! — 



That falls with April showers. 



I mark from this, my window seat,. 



The budding trees close by, 

 And see, far off, the springing wheat 



And pale-green fields of rye. 

 I hear the robin's happy notes 

 Among the orchard trees, 

 And through my open window floats 



The murmurous song of bees. 



The honeysuckle by the door 



Shines in new tints of green; 

 The violets on the bank once more 



In purple clots are seen. 

 The maples by the winding road, 



The willows by the stream. 

 Glow as in other days they glowed, 



Days that are now a dream. 



Ne'er, ne'er, again shall shine the rays 



That then in beauty shone; 

 Dark, dark, and few the coming days, 



And I must walk alone. 

 No more for me the sunny skies 



And fragrant breath of spring; 

 Too soon did childhood's prophecies 



Of happiness take wing. 



Teacher — Once upon a time there were 

 two rich men, one of whom made his fort- 

 une by honest industry, while the other 

 made his by fraud. Now, which of these 

 two men would you prefer to be? 



Tommy (after a slight hestitation) — 

 Which made the most? 



" Say, old man." began the flour, " can 

 you help a friend in knead? I'm afraid 

 I'm in for a loaf." 



" Oh, I guess I can raise the dough," re- 

 plied the yeast, " though I haven't been 

 working for some time, myself." 



If you would live next to nature, read 

 Recreation. 



