New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
LAZY RAMBLES IN THE PARK.
NooKs THAT ARE FAR FROM BUSY LIFE.

FASCINATING IN THEIR WAYS.
There IS no city I'm the world that is fortunate
in Its chief public park than Is New-iork. IL Is ID
its heart is easily accessible from any part OF IT,
which IS than be said for most the parks IN
other great elites Then there Is beauty about II
that is quite Its There patches in 1t which
seem to have been cut out Of some primeval wood
and dropped the park. The open spaces are as
green any meadow in ireland and are always fcnged
with a lively background Of foliage, and generally
some kroll crowned with trees. breaks the monotony
OF these green play grounds. 1t Is in the Rambc how
ever and even more so in the park st further north
that one its real loneliness, and I'm the midst OF
busy city life finds a solitude and surroundings That
make one Imagine that he really Is In the country.
There are many Of these hooks and crannles where
the mowers scythc has not touched the grass ana
where the intruder sit in peace, resting his back
against the trunk OF maple or oak unmndfW OF the
policeman.
Such n retreat Is not far from Ninetieth-st.
small stream trickles down forming pool close py'
As you approach this frogs that have lain ni'deh
in the grass jump In from all SIDES ana
hide under the stones at the oottom'
small fish have found safe home here, to grow
In size and strength before they begin their battle Of
existence in the lake beyond. Water beetles are coz
tinually darng abOut their little airpouches looking
like drops OF mercury while the surface sHp-1aco
the devils coachmen,' jump about In search OF
prey casting curious shadow the gavelly bottom
Two three dragon flies flying above the wauor
resting with their gauzy outstctched wings on some
growing by the side rising out OF the pond ITSELF
on n day 1t is possible to observe an ugly ook-
Ing creature, with two large bulgiug eyes, slowly
crawling up that part OF the stem Of the reed that
Under water. As 1t reaches the surface there -
trans ormation. Out OF this ugly larva cmerges
dragon-ffy Its cmmpled wings soon expand ana
| the late aquatic creature becomes an aerial one.
Other bugs may soon be observed. They VIII ser
tle Tho of he toOk
and a long and careful inspection can be maze.
Though small, ruie they are often most oeauu'
fully marked. A small pocket magnifyng glass Is
capital thing 10 take with you. Noisy 0uIz'ns
gives notice OF the approach OF some g fly, ana biacS
bumbebee, with n deep yellow colored head. moves
from flower 10 flower and then noisily goes to pas
lures new. little pale blue butterfly hovers aoous
the pond and at last settles the edge 10 auench ts
tlirs-a dangerous place. for should any OF the froes
| get sight OF IT, II would soou be gobbed up Flies,
not the houseay, soon begin to settle arouno
and some OF these are most handsome in their coong
moth, which during its chrysas state, mas hveo
its winter life buried in the earth, energies ana chmos
the nearest blade Of grass develop Its crnInpen
| Wings IN an hour 1t has flown away 10 nno nlaoo
| or fall victim to the many birds around SHOULD IL
escape the latter ii returns in the course oil lew Jays
10 Law It's eggs the surface OF SOME oaR maple
elm or lime tree, whichever Is the proper ieeains'
ground Of the caterpillar. and leaving the Matching 10
the kindly merces Of the SUM- departs for life OF fun
and frolic but keeps keen eye open for the most
| nectar bearing flowers.
| There are always few ants foragng around, APP
parently Ia an amless way. Most OF them are harn'
less but the writer n specimen, nearly onequarter
Of an inch long, moving methodcaly along the bough
OF largo vine not long and wanting TO examine
Il caught II as gently possible between finger and
trumb He rcpentcd his action for he got severe bte
which rrtated the flesh for hours. II you are exceed
ngly quite you may be rewarded with fhe sight OF
mouse q field mouse which, warily leaving It's hoes
almost unseen under exposed root creeps ont Into
| the open, its whiskcrs always on the move until -
finds convenient spot to begin its toilet. 1t sits up
on its launches and with fore paws is soon taking
| morning bath. II Is essentially dry one. saddenly
the mouse Is all attention. An acute hearing has in'
formed 1t that cricket has left its leafy refuge and
out on Its hunt for provender. The mouse orouchee
low, and the unwary cricket gives chrrup to call 10
low for ~ has discovered vegetable exudatous
dear TO both OF them a breakfast 1t Is chivarous
but dangerous signal for the next moment tho mouse
has caught the cricket and scampes away to It's sub
| terranean home with its quarry. ~
Another retreat which is different Is hidden rom
| public view BY knoll which completely shuts Il
from any Of the paths around. II Is the far side
Of the knoll and is among some rocks In the hollow
formed By two boulders there Is, however, beautiful
| cushion OF moss the rocks form an arm and back
| rest while above tanglc Of morning glory ana
above that the spreading boughs Of maple form .
only clothed with turf. and Is perfect mine Of food
for the robins and other terrestrial feeding birds.
one never tires OF watching the former searching and
| finding their food as they npidy along the
grass and then suddenly hating bury their beaks In
the soft soil, and after swallowing the wrgging In
sect look around II there Is danger lurking,
and when satisfied there is not are of again In search
of some unfortunate insect These birds always seem
to hunt in couples, as also do the blackbirds one
has much love for these sable beauties for they
are the most confirmed egg thieves In the Park. II
they gave their attention solely 10 sparrows nests,
one could easily forgive them but unfortunately they
do not.
A honey sucke has entwtned itself among the
morning glory and the small bushes. pair Of
riby-throated humming birds have found this out
and they are busy lowering the flowers all day
long They surely building their nest close By.
4 few days ago mocdng bird appeared on this
clearing and after having made an ample meal few
TO the topmost twig OF near tree and sang sweetly
for some time. lie doubtless an escaped bind
and has gone South for he only noticed that
one day.
All around in nie bushes and flying from bough
to Dough Of the all sorts Of birds that break
the silence with their twttternss and often some
bird carols forth song. The warblers plenu-
full and are ever busy the trees. killing hun
dreds OF insects and oaterpiars
A green heron occasionally visits the small lake
near the first mentioned retreat and probes about
In the swaUpy ground Tor worms, near THIS DOCK
there Is Old oak tree. partly rotten. 1t must b
one Of the Oldest trees In the park and Is favonte
resort OF the downy woodpecker Water wagtaus
often visit the small lake walking about In .
sprightly way. their tails keeping time with their
march. Goldfnches. both American and English sing
nearly all day long when they Are not busy search.
ing for grubs. Eveu IN the hottest DAYS these re-
treats In the Park are delightfully."- cool and interest
ing II 1t Is 90 degrees In the shade one Will see
the hycatchers darling out from the trees In pursuit
OF their prey and they never seem TO get hot, ana
II Won are quiet you may the cedar bird silently
darling for nv and should there be a red cedar
t1,otf ba hc$
hns no effect upon the birds appetite.
In some thick bush which borders the grass plot
and over which smilax has crcpt and hangs down In
pretty stOons. colony OF rabbits have made II their
home. and can be seen running about In the open,
but they disappear they hear man approach.
Ing. They venture out again. however, soon a
silence reign> again. These are doubt, some Of
those who have escaped from the meuagerfe or TIE