14 



BIRDS AND FLOWERS. 



black, the distinctive feature of the ovenbird. He was 

 walking about among the hermit thrushes, and his 

 olive back and spotted breast always make me think 

 him of their kin ; but the books classify him as a war- 

 bler; why, I never could understand. 



But the best part of the afternoon was to be af- 

 forded by the larch in the side yard. It seemed as 

 if a warbler were swinging from every one of its 

 feathery twigs. There were dozens of yellow-rumps, 

 then a yellow warbler proper. I soon recognized the 

 blue-headed Nashville and the bay-crowned palm war- 

 blers, both bright yellow underneath. Then came the 

 crown of delight, for there swung into view the rarest 

 and most beautiful of all, the far-famed Blackburnian. 

 But twice before had I seen this gem, in 1900 and 

 1904. I suppose we should " blunt the fine point of 

 seldom pleasure" if he came too often; but one look 

 at that throat and head plated with scales of bur- 

 nished gold is enough for a whole May merry-making. 



The female ruby-crowned kinglet spent the entire 

 afternoon in the larch and in the hedge. She allowed 

 me to approach within two feet of her, but not a note 

 could I get from her gifted throat except a snappish 

 cluck when I tried to take her in my hand. Of course 

 song and chipping sparrows were ubiquitous, with oc- 



