SUGAR MAPLES. 
G3 
come back to build nests of tbeii' own among tbeir native branches. 
Tlie happiest portion of their bird-life is passed A^th us. Many 
of those we see flitting about, at present, are doubtless building 
within sight and sound of our Avindows ; some years Ave haA'e 
counted between forty and fifty nests in our own trees, AAuthout 
including a tribe of swalloAVS. Many birds like a Adllage life ; they 
seem to think man is a very good-natured animal, building chim- 
neys and roofs, planting groves, and digging gardens for their 
especial benefit ; only, they wonder not a little, that shoAving as 
he does a respectable portion of instinct, he should yet allow 
those horrid creatures — boys and cats — to nm at large in his 
domain. 
Momdaij, Sth . — On many of the sugar maples the long flowers 
are hanging in slender green clusters, while on others they have 
not yet come out ; and year after year Ave find the same difference 
betAveen Amrious individuals of the same species of maple, more 
mai’ked, it Avould seem, among these than Avith other trees. Some 
are much in adA'ance of others, and that Avithout any apparent cause 
— trees of the same age and size growmg side by side, Amiying this 
way, shoAving a constitutional difference, like that observed in 
human beings among membem of one family. Frequently the 
young leaA'es of the sugar maple are only a day or two beliind 
the flowers ; they begin to appear, at least, at that time, but on 
others, again, they Avait vmtil the blossoms are falling. These 
green floAvers hanging in full clusters on long filaments, give 
a pleasing character to the tree, liaAung the look of foliage at a 
little distance. Generally they ai‘e a pale green, but at times, on 
some trees, straw-dolor. Tlie sugar maples, vmlike many other 
floweiing trees, do not blossom yormg ; the locusts, amelanchiers, 
