Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-25
MORNING AMONG THE ALPINE BIRDS

Ine 1OlIOWlnS cnarInlnS description OF morning
among the Alpine BIRDS is by Dr. Frederick Tschudi
a member of the Swiss Society of Natiuralsts, and
author of many interesting works. The translation
is by writer for Blackwood
"The greater number especially of the smaller
BIRDS alternate between the hill and the mountain
regions and in the winter gladly seek the fields for
ests and bushes of the lowlands and of the mild
valleys. But their sweetest song, their summer joys
their merriest time, in the mountains. There
thew live like rich gentlemen who, in the fine sea-
son. repair to their country houses. Their table is
spread and their perch ready their friends
at hand to sport and rejoice with them. There
is popularity about their jubilation in their noun
tain forests. No nightingale pipes her meodious
notes. seldom linnet is heard, rarely that capital
singer the black-headed ttmouse-and yet wood
and rock resound again with the joyous concert.
True it is that goodwill and joyous, gushing vital
ty often atone for the absence of natural harmony
and artistic skill Before the rosy msts of morning
have announced the suns approach-often before
light tint in the east has indicated its point
of rising and whilst the stars still geter brightly in
the dark blue sky-a low rumbling noise is beard,
issuing from tall old fir; then follow chattering
clapping notes. growing quicker and quicker and
finally long string of kissing sounds, like the whet
ting or sharpening of blade 1t Is the heathcocks
coupling time With distorted eyes he trips and
dances about upon his bough, whilst in the bushes
below the hens quietly repose and respectfully be-
hold the foolish capers of their lord and master He is
not long left to enliven the forest alone Some marsh
ever since midnight and become jealous in their
song, now that the sun approaches Then the black
bird awakes shakes the dew from the glossy sable
of his plumage, whets his bill against the bough
and hops higher up in the maple-tree almost Won
dering to find that twilight is becoming daylight
and that the forest still sleeps. Twice, thrice he
sends summons the tree tops, across to the
opposite mountain and down into the valley, on
whose brink thin banks of vapour rest. Then he
puts forth with might and fire, his magnificent
notes. alternately gay and palntlve and rouses the
whole woodland region into life. The cuckoo's mus
ical call resounds afar in the forest Thin blue col
umns of smoke issue from the cattage chimneys in
the valley; there's barking ofdogs in the armyards
and the tinkling of cow-bell; the birds rise from
bushes grass and rocks, and soar upon the wing,
to see the sun, and to praise kind Mother Nature,
who has once more sent them the cheerful light Many
poor little utterer reoces that the anx ous, danger
GUS night is past. He sat upon twig, his head
buried in his feathers when by the starlight ne saw
forest owl fly noseessly through the trees in search
of prey The rock-marten came from the valley,
the ermine from the cliff, the pinemartin descended
from his squirrels nest the fox prowled amongst the
bushes. All these the bird had seem On the tree,
in the air. the ground was all around
him. Many weary hours had he sat out, not daring
to stir, protected and concealed by few young
beech-leaves. How gladly he now leaps forth, and
extols the safety of life and the protection of light!
The chaffinch sounds his clear and powerful notes,
the redbreast sings the summit of the larch, the
grecnfinch in the alder-bush, the yellow hammerand
redfnch in the underwood The faxtinch, the TT
mouse, the pOlQen-creSteu anu Cne COHlhoH "ICII,
exert their various notes. the rngdove coos the wood
pecker taps at his tree. But above all these cheer
full sounds are heard the potent voice of the mstetoe
bird the melodious notes of the tree-lark, and the
inmitable chant ofthe trush W hat morning con-
cert in those green glades!
The writer in Backhood referred to speaks thus
of this "pretty Bit of description:
'And what pretty bit of sylvan description is
this, showing hearty love OF nature, and close oo,
servation of her ways! DIR. Tschud has invited
himself to pass the day with the birds, and he avas
himself of the opportunity to observe and note down
the details of their domestic life, like some 1mpertl-
nent foreigner whom hospitable country gentleman
has invited to pass week at 1.-THE Grange, and
who requtes the courtesy by printing the minutest
particulars ofhis hosts housekeeping But the most
susceptible bird could find nothing offensive in the
doctors revelations. 1t is hard to say how he man
aged to observe without alarming, his teathered en-
tertainers He must have covered himself with
leaves or lain for hours perdu beneath bush, sup
pressing his breath till his presence was forgotten,
or till he was taken for part of the landscape, tor
log or fossil-for he had to do with humorous
race, easily panic-stricken and senced. Suddenly
chrping and piping, singing, coolng ana haihlnerhs,
all ceased at once They replaced by the hoarse
and hungry cry of the pigeon-hawk, hoverng oml-
nously over the VOID, whose melodlous dcnlZcns
buried themselves, mute and trembling, 1T Its deep
est foliage. The peril past they again emerged, re-
commenced roulades and trills that Grsi might
envy, and industriousy sought their breakfast
berries insects, seeds. Thus passes the morning,
in song and banquetng; hot noon is the silent time
in the forest when its denizens take their slesta
with the exception of few indeiatigable warblers
whom nothing will silence. Towards evering the
choir is again active but the concert lacks some
what of the vgour and freshness of the mornings |
performance 1t is farewell to light-whlch the |
other welcomed. Night falls, and once more the
stiffness is only broken by the hooting of owls, ald
the heavy circling of the bat"