WALK IN THE WOODS. 
99 
with a white stripe on the wings ; but they were in a thicket both 
times, and not being at hberty to stay and watch them, it would 
not do to assert positively that these were the Bohemian wax- 
wing. Learned ornithologists, Avith a bird in the hand, have some- 
times made great mistakes on such matters, and, of course, un- 
learned people should be very modest in expressing an opinion, 
especially where, instead of one bird in the hand, they can only 
point to two in a bush. As for the cedar- birds, everybody knows 
them ; they are common enough throughout the country, and are 
also abundant in Mexico. They are sold in the markets of our large 
towns, in the autumn and spring, for two or three cents a piece. 
Saturday, 2d, — Cloud}^ morning, followed by a charming af- 
ternoon. Long walk. Took a by-road which led us over the 
hills to a wild spot, where, in a distance of two or three miles, 
there is only one inhabited house, and that stands on the border 
of a gloomy swamp, from which the wood has been cut away, 
while two or three deserted log-cabins along the road only make 
things look more desolate. We enjoyed the walk all the more, 
however, for its wild, rude character, so different from our every- 
day rambles. Passed several beautiful springs in the borders of 
the unfenced woods, and saw several interesting birds. A hand- 
some Ciape, or golden-winged woodpecker, a pretty wood-pewce, 
and a very delicate little black-poll warbler, this last rare, and 
entirely confined to the forest ; it was hopping very leisurely 
among the flowery branches of a wild cherry, and we had an ex- 
cellent opportunity of observing it, for on that wild spot it was 
not on the look-out for human enemies, and we approached, un- 
observed, placing ourselves behind a bush. These three birds 
are all peculiar to our part of the world. 
