Eastern times., 1855-04-26
MistflIanp,
The Bir ds Of Spring.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
My quiet residence in the country, aloof
from fashion, politics, and the money market,
leaves me occasionally to the study of nature,
and other low pursuits. Having few neigh
bors also, on whom TO keep watch and exer-
else my habits of observation, am fain to
amuse myself with pryng into the domestic
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.
country, are sensible of the delightful inhu-
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-coIored 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
few prematurely warm days had given
fattering 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 matin and his vesper hymns. It
is true, he sang occasionally throughout the
day but at these still hours, his song was
more remarked He sat on leafess tree,
just before the window, and warbled forth his
notes, few and simple, but singularly sweet,
with something of plaintiye tone, that
heightened their effect
The first morning that he was heard, was a
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 Duus
SONS. | was reminded of the tempest-tossed
crew of Columbus when, after their long du-
bious voyage, the feld-birds came singing
round the ship, though still far at sea, rejoic-
ing them with the belief of the immediate
proximity of land. A sharp return of winter
almost silenced my little songster, and dashed
the hilarity of the household yet still he
poured forth, now and then, few plaintiye
notes, between the frosty ppilgs of the breeze.
like CLEANS of sunshine between wintry clouds.
have consulted my book of ornithology in
vain, to find out the name of this kindly little
bird, who certainly deserves honor and favor
far beyond his modest pretensons, He comes
like the lowly violet, the most unpretending
but welcomest Of flowers, breathing the sweet
promises of the early year.
Another Of our feathered visitors, who fol
low close upon the steps of winter, is the Pc
wit, or Pe-wee, or Phoebe bird for he is
called by each of these names, from fanciet
resemblance TO the sound of his monotonous
note. He is sociable little being, and seeks
the habitaton of man.. A pair of them have
built beneath my porch, and have reared sew
eral broods there, for two years past, their nes
being never disturbed. They arrive early ii
the spring, just when the crocus and the snow
drop begin to peep forth. Their first chirI
spreads gladness through the house. The
| Phoebe birds have come is heard on all sides
they are welcomed back like members of the
family and speculations are made upor
where they have been, and what countrie.
they have seen during their long ABSENCE
| Their arrival is the more cheering, as it i.
pronounced, by the old weather-wise people
of the country, the sure sign that the severe
frosis are at an end, and that the gardener may
resume his labors with confidence
About this time, too, arrives the blue-bird
so POLITICALLY yet truly described by Wilson
His appearance gladdens the whole landscape
You hear his soft warble in every field. He
sociably approaches your habltation. and takes
up his residence in your vicinity.
The happiest bird of our spring, however,
and one that rivals the European lark in my
estimation, is the Bobllncon, 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 parching, and pant
ing, and dissolving heats of summer. But IN
this genial interval, nature is in all freshness
and fragrance THE rains are over and gone,
the flowers appear upon the earth, the time q