The sun., 1891-05-24

an almost invisible wire from the top OF the
frame. andthe hanging most 70 dcftly Joined TO
the stem that IL Ia impossible to tell whore the
birds cRrpentering ends and human fingers
supplemented II. The branch and tho position
OF the nest are copied from an actual bough.
aud nothing more lovely In grace and color
could be conceived OF. unless 1t is the pine
nnches. These quick little birds are balancing
on q splendid bit Of tine tree. heavy with
cones. and a cnrpeting beneath them OF brown
pine needles. They have only paused for mo-
mont, andwil fly again II you make m incau-
tious movement
And now we como to some examples OF Mrs.
MogridRe's handiwork. which seem TO us tho
cleverest and most charming Of all: We
mean her field gardening in the cases with the
yellow and prairie warblers and the field
spnrrows. But handlwork is not suggest
cd: the brambles and ern.scs, the clovers
and buttercups seem to be living and grow
ing with all the lxuriance OF wild things,
and In tanRle that lie perfect grace leaves
under leaves. little half-hidden blossoms. and
shoots OF tiny plants. an undercarpeting OF
moss. and short uneven turf, and the sweet
ness and wholesomeness OF very nature ex-
pressed by the whole. 1t Is Just rs II n bit Of a
field had been dug up and put down untouched
In the frame. Any ono who hos ever spent
an idle and delicious hour lying promo on an
uncultivated hillside. and bent MS head SO
that the whole world was to him rs to an ant but
two square foot OF sod. has seen Just tho little
scene OF lite that 1. so arttully renroduced
here: aud to look at It makes him Aomesick for
the country and n summer day. In one half OF
the same case with the field sparrows live
the oven birds tSci,uus A,rocapiti,ts L.) In tho
midst Of q like pretty confusion Of mendow
Rrowths. and tho gray most shaped like an
oval oven. nestled in among the grasses.
Mrs. MogriiGe anI Mr.. Richardson are
equally successful with the water birds and
besides the laughing gulls. We see the clapper
rails tRaltus Lonoirost,is Crepitans. Gm.) In
their hiding on the marsh. with their nest so
cunningly concealed that ono has to stoop and
peer tn discover it; and the shnrp tailed spar-
rows and sea side sparrows. too. and many others
are all delightful to watch One Of the very large
examples shows the pied billed grebe. with
IN elaborate employment OF glass to represent
a bit OF a pond. Tho Young grebes are swimming
upon the surface. half of their little bodies
and their Little legs visible under tho glass
inst as they woull be under water. water
plants arranged with the same inRenu.
ity. the leaves floating, and the LONG stems
growing down into the pebbly and muddy bot
tom. Nothing could DO more dexterously and
perfectly managed: but though the glass looks
as much like water as anything except water
miss the charm Of the woodland birds
To understand the full value Of this colec-
tion ono should sec the chidren's enjoyment
In Il: party OF pale little scholars from tho
public schools, their books In their satohels
hurryinR from case to case in perfect delight.
wondering and exclaiming. trying to find the
nests. and seeming atouching shadow OF chill
dren revellng In real country joys. But 1t is
much that they should receive such sugges-
ton OF natures bewitchinG craft What has
been done for the birds ia to be done for some OF
tho smaller animals also as well and the water
rats and ell and flying squirrels have already
been installed a ID built their nests In haunts
which would seem TO be OF their own choosing.
or at least 1t must be very pernickety water
rat that is not content with the cool. dark
water and all the lovely mud Mr. Richardson
has given him. and with the overshadowinR
grasses. and the beautiful water lilies Mrs.
MogridRs has fonted under his very nose as
he swlms about. And did any rcd squirrel ever
find anything more enchanting tina this locust
tree covered with sweet white blossoms or a
more likely spot to establish his home and