Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-21

birds were readily fixed in his memory.
ana with such accuracy that he could
defect the Individual variation In the
usual songs of particular species of
pirus, a trait in their nature which
always interested him.
He wrote with facility and soon
formed the habit of recording his OBJ
serVauons daily. In this way lie col
lecteu large amount of manuscript.
out OF which he prepared the text OF
ms pook. This he completed in his
seventeenth year He submitted It to
ms elder brother, a good amateur
and asked his opinion as to
II. Hts brother was struck
with the thoroughness. accuracy and
originality of the work and procured
us publication In an edition OF one
thousand copies. The book was well
received, sold rapidly and soon became
out of print"
Here Is a sample of Mr., Minot's
style; IAN birds have an affection for
some haunt, whittier. II left undis-
turbed. they return in the spring. These
haunts are often extensive, enabling
them to change their residence an
nually until they are driven away.
Catbirds frequently return every year
to the same thicket, and have known
the red-eyed vireo to build her nest in
the same tree where II was built and
robbed the year before. Likewise pee
wees very often choose successfully
two or three building sites close to one
The less familiar species are
not so attached to particular spots, but
generally build their nests each sum-
mer In the same tract of land "a tree
warbler In the same woods. etc,)
Hawks land occasionally even crows)
become attached to a certain grove or
pine wood, and build near the same
place several years In succession, some
times though repeatedly robbed Wood
peckers (who always lay their eggs in
holes) do not usually, so far as my
observations have extended, occupy the
same holes twice, but leave them to
be used by chickadees or other birds.
Feelings OF attachment are much
stronger in some species than in
others, being often nearly extinct
They are more marked in civilized dis.
trlcts, where there is less range of
country than in other parts of the
state. Many birds forsake their
haunts II disturbed but apparently
sometimes return after long absence.
The evidence of identical birds return
ing to the same spot Is very strong,
particularly in the case of individuals
peculiarly marked. In the cool
OF the morning or at evening, from
the time the sun sets until dusk be-
comes dark, the wood thrush, having
mounted to a perch 30 high that his
outbursts Of heavenly music shall not
be confined to earth or lost In the sur
rounding shrubbery pours out such a
melody that he seems at every utter
ance to be endeuvoring to recall his
very soul that fed to heaven on the
winged notes OF his last liquid melo-
dy.' At other times of the day, II Il
Is cloudy, or II he is in dark cool
woods, he sings while he is busted in
providing for himself and his family,
aud as he moves through the bushcg.
HIS song Is rarely one continuous
strain, but consists of many detached
variations, a series Of liquid, metallic.
rich, powerful and expressive notes,
which are so exquisite that the all
absorbed and unohtrusive musician
seldom, If ever, fails TO charm who
ever hears him. Yet II ought to be
remembered that though some wood
thrushcs can produce such music as
perhaps no other birds can rival, others
OF them are greatly inferior to their
fellows. The sparrow hawks,
though their flight is comparatively
wenk It being rarely or never much
protracted, are none the less active
and daring.
"Perched on some tree or fence, and
occasionally flirting the tail. they
eagerly watch for their prey. which
consists Of mice, small birds and even
Insects Then, as If restless and dis
satisfied, they leave their posts and
fly along the roadsides, over the fields,
through the orchards, but less often
among the woods than in open lands.
Now pauslng to reconnoitre, with a
quivering Of the wings. now. sailing
briefly, hut with eminent grace, they
pass on swiftly. but not in the constant
hurry which characteri2es the sharp
shines hawk. Sometimes they pounce
upon O field mouse, which they often
carry to tree to eat; sometimes their
quick eye detects poor sparrow or
thrush, and then they dive into some
thicket or chase on wing, generally
with fatal success. Their motions are
characterized by more grace but less
speed and fury than those OF other
small hawks. They are, however.
equally cruel and destructive. and the
smaller birds find little or no protec-
ton in thickets or trees. They usually
perch and fly not far from the ground,
and never, so far as / have observed,
mount to n great height. Several an
ecdotes serve to show that they are
very scrupulous about their food, and
do not like tainted flesh. They are
the least shy of our hawks. and often
exhibit surprising degree of familiar
ity toward men. They are also rather
social, and not uncommonly occur In
family parties or pairs"
The Trllby craze, for such Il truly
is, has taken many and curious turns.
1t would seem that everything new
was Trllby something, even to n town
of that name. The scrapbook enthusl-
asts have also fallen before the mania,
but just how many there are who
are making Trllby scrapbooks would
take a double mind reading clairvoyant
adept OF the Hinaluyas to tell. The
latest returns, however. would lndi-
cate that the number was multltudin-
Gus. Bailey Avery. A. NJ. Palmer's
press agent was one Of the first TO join
the army OF Trllby scrapbook makers.
When he had completed two books
Mr. Palmer ioyfully Informed him
that Paul Potter had made a very
acceptable dwmRtlZatlOn OF the book,
and that the play would be produced
at an early day. Mr.. Avery's interest
in Du Mnuriers masterpiece was gal
vaniged into renewed life and the
search for Trilby material grew apace
His scrnp-bopk also. He never
passes news stand without
first looking over everything In sight
in search for something about Trllby.
He has Interested his friends in the
search for material. so little escapes
his drag net. A clipping bureau has
supplied him with hundredsof clippings.
As press agent OF the Trilby Company
he has had an excellent opportunity to
not hold If the best material. Mr..