Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-05-23
From the Knicker6Ocksr for May.
The Birds Of Spring.
BY GEoFFREY CRAYON, GENT.

patton, and drives me to the study of nature,
and other low pursuits. Having few neigh
borS, also, on whom to keep a watch, and ex-
ercise my habits of observation, am fain
to amuse myself with prying into the domes-
tic concerns and peculiarities of the animals
around me; and, during the present season.
have derived considerable entertainment
from certain sociable little birds, almost the
only visitors we have, during this early part
of the year.
Those who have passed the winter in the
country, are sensible of the delightful infiu-
ences that accompany the earliest indications
OF spring; and Of these, none are more de-
lightful than the first notes of the birds. -
There is one modest little sad-colored bird,
much resembling wren, which came about
the house just on the skirts of winter, when
not blade of grass was to be seen, and
when a few prematurely warm days had
given flattering foretaste of soft weather.
He sang early in the dawning, long before
sunrise, and late in the evening, just before
the closing in of night, his n1atin and his YES
per hymns. 1t is true, he sung occasionally
throughout the day; but at these still hours,
his song was more remarked. He sat on
leafiess tree, just before the window,
and warbled forth his notes, free and simple,
but singularly sweet, with something of
plaintive tone, that heightened their effect
The first morning that he was heard was
joyous one among the young folks of my
household. The long, death-like sleep Of
winter was at an end nature was once more
awakening; they now promised themselves
the immediate appearance Of buds and bios
SONS. was reminded of-the tempest-tossed
crew of Columbus, when, after their long, du-
bious voyage, the field-birds came singing
round the ship, though still far at sea, rejoi-
cling them with the belief of the immediate
proximity of land. A sharp return of winter
almost silenced my little songster, and dash
ed the hilarity of the household; yet still he
poured forth, now and then, a few plaintive
notes, between the frosty pipings of the
breeze. like CLEANS of sunshine between win
try clouds.
1 have consulted my hook Of ornithology,
in vain, to find out the name of this kindly
little bird, who certainly deserves honor and
favor far beyond his modest pretensions. He
comes like the lowly violet, the most unpre-
tending, but welcomest of flowers, breathing
the sweet promise of the early yeaf.
Another of our feathered visitors who fol-
low close upon the steps of winter, is the Pc
wit, or Pe-wee, or PhGbe-bird, for he is call
ed by each of these names, from fancied
resemblance to the sound of his monotonous
note. He is sociable little being, and seeks
the habitation of man. pair of them have
built beneath my porch, and have reared sew
eral broods there, for two years past, their
nest being never disturbed. They arrive
early in the spring, just when the crocus and
the snow drop begin to peep forth. Their
first chirp spreads gladness through the house.
The PhGbe-birds have come !! is heard on
all sides they are welcomed back like men,
bers of the family; and speculations are
made upon where they have been, and what
countries they have seen, during their long
absence. Their arrival is the more cheering,
as it is pronounced by the old weather-wise
people of the country, the sure sign that the
severe frosts are at an end, and that the gar
dener may resume his labors with conf
dence.
About this time, too, arrives the blue-bird,
so POLITICALLY yet truly described by Wilson.
His appearance gladdens the whole land
scape. You hear his soft MARBLE in every
field. He socially approaches your habita-
cinity. But why should attempt to describe
him, when have Wilson's own graphic ver-
ses to place him before my reader!
When winters cold tempests and SHOWS are no more,
Green meadows and brown furrow'd fields reap
pearing,
The fishermen hauling their shad to the shore,
And cloud cleavlng geese to the lakes are asteerng
When red glow the naples, SO fresh and go pleasing,
Oh then comes the bue-bird, the herald of spring,
And halls with his warblings the charms of the
season.
The loud.piping frogs make the marshes to rings
Then warm CLOVIS the sunshine, and warm glows
the weather;
The blue woodland flowers just beginning to spring,
And spice wood and sassafras budding together
IL. rarIA hon aNyAd
Your walks border up, and plant at your leisure
The biue-bird will chant from his box such an air,
That all your hard tolls will seem truly pleasure
He fits through the orchard, he visits each tree
The red.Aowering peach and the apples sweet
blossoms -
He snaps up destroyers, wherever they be,
And seizes the caitiffs that Turk in their boson1s;
He draes she vile grub from the corn 1t devours,
The worms from the webs where they riot and
His song and his services freely are ours,
And all that he asks is, in summer shelter.
The plouphman is pleased when he CLEANS in his train,
Now searching the burrows. now mounting to cheer
The gardner delights in his sweet. simple strain
And leans on his spade to survey and to bear h
While gazing intent, as he MARBLES before them,
In mantle of sky-bue, and bosom SO red,
That each little loerer seems to adore him.
The happiest bird of our spring, and one
that rivals the European lark in my estima-
ton, is the Boblincon, or Boblink, as he is
commonly called. He arrives at that choice
portion Of our year, which in this latitude,
answers to the description of the month of
May, so often given by the poets. With us,
it begins about the middle Of May, and lasts
until nearly the middle of June. Earlier
than this, winter is apt to return on its traces,
and to blight the opening beauties of the
year; and later than this, begin the parch-
ing, and painting, and dissolving heats of
summer. But in this genial interval, nature
is in all her freshness and fragrance: 'the
rains are over and gone, the flowers appear
upon the earth, the time OF the singing OF
birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is
heard in the land The trees are now in
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