FLORIDA BIRD NOTES. 
137 
all, there will be the opportunity, for those who possess am¬ 
bition, patience, and a little skill in manipulation, of observ¬ 
ing, in the most favorable conditions, some of those wonder¬ 
ful processes of development through which lower forms are 
gradually replaced by higher forms so that the never ceas¬ 
ing round of change, elimination, adaptation and selection 
carries the whole created world upward and forward, toward, 
if never to, perfection. 
Florida Bird Notes. 
BY EEEA HOPE. 
The first sounds that I* generally hear in the morning 
come from the jays, mocking-birds or cat-birds, but a wood¬ 
pecker was evidently trying to force an entrance, a few morn¬ 
ings since. The red-cockaded ones are common. 
I have looked in vain for a robin. I hoped to find that 
old friend, as Chapman says that enormous flocks are to be 
seen about the China trees after the berries. The trees full 
of berries are here, but where do 3^ou suppose the red-breasts 
are? 
Ever since my arrival here I have seen some birds which 
tantalized me, and yesterday came to the conclusion, after 
better views, that they were the American pipit, their con¬ 
stant movement of the tail being very marked, color, size, 
running, etc., corresponding to description, but I have 
been puzzled, for most of the birds are very restless, more 
like the Fall migrations than the Spring. Several birds 
may be seen in one flock, which produces confusion, espe¬ 
cially when they resemble one another. 
The much-abused, or abusive, English sparrow, which 
I had considered omnipresent, is missing. I am told that 
they are annoyed at the store by the white-throated spar- 
