, 1874-05-30
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.



All day long At ofkreourring intervals, from
tho first blush Of dawn until twilight Inns failed
Into tho obsourity OF evening, there drops on tho
oar OF the iiBtenor in groves and woodlands the
most mournfu1, complaining, bosceching note
that over broke from tho heart OF n bird. Tho
pathos Of II would bo into]erable woro II not
Hoftonol and subdued by II purity and Sweot-
noHs in tho tone that mnko 1t as raviBhing AZ 1t Ia
melancholy. II ia lilo tho yoico from tho dopths
Of como divno despair, Willing and moaning in
sorrow that cannot be aasuagod or comfortcd,
and that yet tnkos On a soothing, tondor grace
from tho exquisite nature OF tho being 80 aflliot-
ed Ia thore, In truth, 4 Bocrot anguish gnaw-
ing at tho hoart OF this unhappy bird, giving 1t
no rest from pain, no relief aavo IN tho Hobbng
utteranoc Ct Its long g-arawn subtnisaive, sutfor-
Ing ctyp Wo cannot think 1t. 1t ii but ono Of
those tantalizing, perplexing cnsos whore Ma
turo, IN IN altish mood. mocks experience mud
intuition, passing OF tor Eenuine q cousummato
and insorutablo counterfeit. Aa whom aho writes
OIL tile human brow tokena OF genius that hayo
misload with tho hopo Of warmth whcro mono
exits, or drawn lines OF truth aud oandor faooa
which mahk tho hollownoss and ialalty Of tho
hoart within.
ponsivo bird, tho Wood -rewoo dontopts virc,,s),
returned from tho South. It brings up tho
roar Of tho logiong which migrate annually from
one climate to another, and Is tho worry laat of
tho loitorors that lingor bohiud the min arrny,
leisr1roly dal1ying in ulldor lattudos until tho
bland and gentle moods Of spring aro on tho
point Of blazing into tho hoat and pasaion Of
summer: It oonlinas ttae1t protty cloaely within
tho limits Of grove and fofest, ohooaing for ite
Brs1oses eo oi oos e ho oost G sas On
tho horizontal urn Of some high, dry tWig its
most will be found. II found 1t over is, for 1t iB
30 ounningly constructed as utmost to defy dis
L. Is shaoT a. H. my, apa nna is com
stances, md contod on tho exterior with
moaBos and liollons glnod together with
naltva. Seated on tho top Of docayed
aud moBs-grown limb. it looks 80 exactly like n
knot on tho branch that, in nine 0aHes out Of ton.
1t would pass for such. But examine 1t cloBoly,
and It is wonder OF bird~arc}liteoturo mot s,,r-
passed in boanty and ingenuity In tho whole
world Of houses built without hands. Tho egga
as tho most that holds thom. They arc deli
cato cream-c COLOR. with flush Of lilac md brown
spots maaBoa at tho 1nrgr end. But one brood
Is raHod in season, and tho period Of incubation
is completed in a fortnight.
September, and Is said to axtend it's migration
into South America As long "a it is With us,
1t continues without nsormisglon it's pleading,
plantiye cry. In tho honrt Of midaummor
Il Is almost tho only bird note That broaks on tho
Btllneaa of the woods. Sweet tndsnd 30 como
melod}ous toar," 1t moves tho sJmpathios and
atirs tho fancy beyond all other strains that
minglo in tho varied harmonies Of Nat,,ro. It
is especially touching at eyentido, Then all olso
no tnserrupting acconts, Its wild complaint into
the ear Of night. II 1t wero praying for help
and roleauo from sonno Brent burden OF sorrow,
strong must bo the hoart that could rofuse to
melt at ita petition.
CloHo cousin to tho bird we hsvo doucribod, Is
tho Common -pewoo, or Phubo (Sayo,nis
.Jusous). Tho two look no much alike
rs scarcely to DO distinguished from
7,'l osoh 9thor i,r, They y, are both plain ain;
olive brown and tuokers Of yollouish white.
Thoy hayo big beads aud rather homely hguren;
but whoever knows anything Of birds has. m
abiding Affection for then. They arc both .ds-
ccatohors, and mako wonderful shots on tho Wig:
The first timc oyor obHervod Phoebe engaged
In ita native sport, could not imagine what l t
rail OF a fence, and from this It would start ont
as II for o1tonded flight, and then suddenly
it continued to do over md oyor again, With i'm
porturbablo perseverance, aud gravity. It locked
such silly aud pointlcss proceeding, thought
tho bird must bo crazy But watched II mar
merely snaring flies. In other words, catching
and eating its supper. Every time it flow for
ward 1t snapped into ita beals nome 1ittlo winged
inscos. 1t noyor missed it's aim. EACH guat or
fly that came within its range waH trapped aa
nure az fate. It Is tho rarost occurrence when
pursuing game, that tho halves OK fly
eatcher's bill shut together without inclosing
their prey.
The pheobe Is perfect littlo rustic. It may
dwell within the oity's limits, but it's voice un-
doninbly bctrays it's provincial origin. 1ts homo
iB amid meadows and orchards, and In oulti-
vnted farm lauds; and, whoroyor it may wander,
those sccncs como to mind at It's call. It's aong
is al limited in scope as its cousins, and CON
repeatod with altornate rising aud falling inlec-
,tion. Phoebe is full Al rustic = name
as Audrey; aud, when We hoar It sung
out from one bird to another, NO know
without question. its owners have come in from
the country. But there is d wholesome relish 10
tho sound. It has dowy freshness, like tho carly
morning clover aud tho sweet breathed APPLE
blosaom that load the air with fragrance.
Tho phcebo is friendly in its disposition, md
1ihea to build its nest in tho porch, or undor the
places are quito to it's mind. 1t will fix ita habi-
tation amoug tho timbers under bridge, or in
the mouth Of m old we'll, or on tho ledge Of
cave. 1tH domicile ia fit for 4 fairy to live in.
tho inside with horse-hair, and cfrectually
concealed on tho outside with mautla Of greon
m0BH. In this snug receptacle are deposited
Aye small, sharp-pointed, white eggs,
with sholls go thin that the rosy yolks
peep planly through. There faro no words to
paint truly Its prettineBu,
s.eal 4 most and keep 1t by you until yot have
studied all it's CHARM It Ia not a worry naughty
thing to do. The birds will mourn diaoOnsO-
lately at first. and sond queer little qualms
creeping ovor you. You'll fool guiltier for a
time thRn you ever did bofore but. in day or
two, the poor little pnrents, recouoiled to thoir
loss. will select now site, and full to building
another mansion, with hearts just as happy III
oyor boat In their bosons. Tho sight will pluck
the root from your sorrow, especially when YOU
reflect that there iB constant warfare on birds
nests, md, II you spare tho one you oovot, very
likely somo creature loHs acrupulous will appro-
priato it for baHer purposes. Moralists who
deyour cakes Hnl custards with cool conaciencoa
will haply frowu upon the theft Of birds nost.
And It is . wicked busness pursued wnntonly.
But, practiood once in q while, until you hayo
got samples Of all tho nests and eggs to bu
found In your vicinity 1t is as inuocent as the
qualification Of nine out Of ton Of cur manifold
propenaties.
The phmbo usually raiaos two or threo broods
In summer. II one aot Of its eggs 90 Into the
collection Of an oologlst, there is no groat harm
dono. The bird is 1noHtly silent after June Ii
ovor; but in tho Lutte tall, VIXEN it is making
ready for its wintor-abuonco, 1t resumes its voice