New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-19
A RAMBLE ~ THE PARK.
SCENES IN THE LATE FALL.

SQUIRRELS BUSY SEARCHING FOR NI-TS-BIRDS
ON HAND AT THIS SEASON
Central Park is always beautiful and TO the
naturalist who wanders silently among its widest
parts some new surprise will always add a pleasure
to the simple walk. The last few days have made
great change in all its glades November for some
days had been clustering her worst and there was
little to see bu; the wild swirl of leaves The birds
hid themselves in the evergreen thickets the frs
and under the shelter of the rocks: even the spar
rows could be seen crouching behind the tufts and
bennets Of grass. while the squirrels snug in their
leafy nests. hardly cared to visit their caches for
much wanted meal
The sun that shone for two days last week. and
the glorious spell of line. almost warm weather
changed all that There few leaves falling
only the oaks. the swamp magnolia with its silver
backed leaves. and the weeping willows. with their
long brown streamers still hid their boughs and
twigs with dying foliage In warm hooks the
dandelion had taken grace of heart. and here and
there its yellow flower shone in the emerald set
ting of the grass. \ rabbit enjoying a sesa
awoke. surprised at the rude intruder. and bobbing
his white tail at every jump. soon lost In
neighboring thcket among whose roots he had
tunnelled his berry" Down among the leaves the
squirrels were busy everywhere searching for nuts.
Jerking their great pushy tails moment the
with heads half buried in the fallen foliage.
they sent the leaves flying right and left with their
small paws, and. when the search was rewarded.
seated on their launches with the tail now
balancer and the nut between their forepaws would
MUNICH contentedy within six feet of the watcher.
But the eye never off that strange stump
standing silently by. The slightest move and the
nut held between the teeth and the little rodent
ten feet up the nearest tree, looking down con-
temptuous.y at the man. jerking defiance with his
tail and giving vent grunts of evident dispeaSure
The squirrel. however is not always on top.
Many of them. unfortunately, fall victims TO the
hal will
lie in wait behind a tree root. and with one spring
are fairly all the small animal one crunch
OF the formidable jaws knocks out almost all me-
and the small tiger hurries TO some cleft IN the
rocks
The squirrel too has and then some other
ills to bear a worthy couple-for be il UNDERSTOOD
the squirrel is strictly monosamous-had used ,he
home of woodpecker FOR one OF ther W'' W.
storehouses The Woodpeckers they are OF uc
downy kind. having returned from the north, ha we
evidently made up their minds to remain mere 10,
the winter They revisited their old pecked-oui
home In one OF the stumps IN me haimne a md
finding II full OF acorns butternuts. beechnuts ana
nuts Of all kinds. began TO clear out the store;
Mr. and Mrs Squirrel objected by climbing al, an
around the stump and the boushs OF an!o''' NM
trees VOC iferatng as loudly as squirrel can anu
when they became troublesome a peGk or W. 9
brought them to reason; and making the Dest %
a bad bargain they carried their stores 10 SONIC
o':e' SQUIRREL always has several OF these winter
storehouses. Scratching among the leaves anu moo
nooS snayr OWN Who has made halt his way
South This ruddy backed bird with white ~, rom
c,la X.
,hat tvrani the English sparrow. ana passes as
r,,Ie for a thrush But he is true sparrow, az
crA,sive to a certain extent. ana MS snhlei 'o"S''
leaves him respectfully alone 49,, ,o,,,,,
Tho ,nncos or snow birds. too were busy looking
Tor CRIBS and their fanlike tails frnsed on each
side with white feathers, stood our IN cieai ,p,
trast against the dark brown o. 'he ''"''' ''"'
The small chicadees could be heard all about the
pamble as they climbed a.ong the boughs.
searching for food and giving vent to the cry that
gives them their name. ONT oi Il III i,'1 .a'i'
Song so sweet that the rambler ana ms com
panion halted wondering who could be M SOM
colony OF whom are doing wei In IN" iark.
. Tow OF these birds let loose some thic"
Their chief stamping ground is around me puses
near The nurseries but they are gradually spread,
ing out over the Park. An occasional roin - S',.i
70 he seen. but they Will soon 20 South. A l'N
sometimes remain throughout tn" winter Last
wear there was one solitary bra, ana, CURIOUS ~
saw he made friends with a mock or spaii""S' anu
white hroated sparrows can sun be iound IN u'
Ramble and there at east three par 81 car
dinai birds there. The gaudily painted male can
he seen nVing through the bushes lollo""I bS no
dinpv-colored mate 4 small trcc-climber was no
ticed busiy climbing some elm trees; ana pushiiiSS
his ebarn heak into every crcVcc The bird would
IN the next tree, begin from the root. ana MAKE
similar search. The knights are always twltterng
among the trees, ana occasionally ue hu"ls' ~
OF a peacock bushes the song OF every other pro.
a large white owl has taken NJ his quarters IN
biz patch OF prvet bushes just AT the back OF the
menagerie. much to the discontinue o, , ,h
roosting place Hundreds used 10 sleep there. ana
in the evenings when they went TO r 5 , W.,
they could be heard a quarter OF mic AVA,
The owl has evidently had meal or some OF ,he s
birds for they use the boughs OF the htlsl-
boring trees. In which there Is only cola corlloi
and il is to be hoped that the Owl picks Few on
every night. for the sparrOws are undoubtedly the
curse OF the park.