Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-22
Birds Of Winter.

IneIe are no uOre WlnSeme guests In winter
than the graceful little snoW-birds. What
beautiful. perfectly finished pieces of natures
workmanship they ale. How intense Is the
lustre Of their tiny black eyes! WHAT vivid
ray OF intelligence darts from these electric
life centres. all birds impress US with keen
sense OF their Astounding vitality; but the
snow bird Is one Of those In which we rec 1g.
Mise something closely akin to an acuieiy-
sensitive, delica!ely organized human being.
There is dreamy suggestion Of poetic beauty
about the fairy like little creatures. The pure
ivory whlteness OF their slender BILL so dainuly
turned. so smoothly polished, translucent and
pinky In the sunlight,ts unique N ark OF a-ts-
tocratic distinction.
OF different race from these mild and gentle
pets are the pugnacious English sparrOws, who
battle SO Hereby over the possession OF a big.
ger crumo or ruler grain. They are OF the
earth, earthly; and their Gatherings, their
seedlings and squabbles are quite as common
CroWding to the feeding ground In noisy
focks, they settle down contentedly to the re-
past each fluffy little ball Of feathers strongly
relieved against the snow, then rising with
rily In the welcome CLEANS Of winter sunshine,
leaving the snowy surface just trodden so dill
gently by them covered with an intricate pat
tern Of delicate network, the markings made
by those slender but busy little feet OF theirs.
The ch1cadee. or titmouse, that tiny bird
whose cheery courage In Drawing the rgors OF
our winter, Emerson has shown forth In the
crystal mirror of mis- verse, is our occasional
guest at this season. In his thick plumage OF
gray and black, relieved with white SO aug.
gestlVe In It's color and texture Of the fuTs
worn by some Arctic explorer, he bravely
makes his way through the snowy woods
perchlng now and again, while his merry note
rings forth no unmeaniDg challenge to all the
powers OF the air that walt in the train of old
winter and do his bidding. Ice, FROST snow.
sleet, hail rain, he cheerfully meets them ali
undaunted: Whether the storm cloud darkens
spirit OF piercing cold whose touch is a stab.
and whose grasp is death, walks abroad. the
RADIANT heart OF the chickadee beats un chilled
and his clear KOte Still sounds on In triumph of
gayety. What fiery spark of vitality burns
In the breast OF this least of creatures!
Here moves this atom In full breath,
Hurting defiance at vast death"
But passing from the chickadee to another
we can but pay homage in our strongest terms
OF admiration TO so exquisite creature an In
c ta,la OF natures most dainty and luxur-
darlings OF luxury. The adjective downy.
which descriptive science has applied to him
exactly suggests the texture and gloss of his
peckers rarely condescends to display his royal
robes OF velvet and ermine-Velvet of the
Tlcnest, Iettiest dye, ermine Of the purest, in
densest wnltsness.in the plebeian precincts OF
our dooryardS; but on some damp November
morning you may hear bis high, insistent re-
pealed note. and glancing out you will soon
discover this 1eathered arlstocrat fiuttering
about, with an assured air OF Domination
among the leafless branches, while he tans
the bark with his powerful biil, after the char
a sa manner OF his race. He is scarcely
larger than robin, though his white pln
mage enhances his apparent Size; and his mot
Iled markings even suggest something as IA
mlliar as the feathers OF the silver snanpie.I
Poland fowls, but no robin, much less. q do
nestle fowl, ever bore himself with the lorfilv
ease ca OF this free creature OF the woods. You
may come quite near him; he hardly designs
rear OF you than Of the small birds who gather
IN humble admiration around the superh
Stranger, or hurriedly retire before hts impos@
deep woods, he knows no Law but his own re0
gai vii! no domain other than that which he
claims by hereditary right When you have
derer to accept your poor Hospitality, Won fael
as deeply honored as did any humble aiheren1
OF the exiled Stuart. when that monarch era'
G W sn suppea with his loyal retaner-Lefter