Evening star., 1897-01-23

Blue JAY.
briar. one is strongly impressed with the
fanclful idea that he has accidentally stum-
bled across a band of miniature stone
masons at work, the notes that rise in con-
slant profusion being quantity suggestive
OF the clinkings of tiny chisels upon mar
bic. Mingled with these clinking notes one
is likely to hear various others coming
from the tree sparrows, as well as some
that. If traced to their authors. will be
found to emanate from sparrows of other
kinds: for Monticola's family pride if he
possess such trait does not prevent him
from mingling freely with his numerous
cousins OF various degrees.
The Song Sparrow.
The song sparrows loud and rich
chlrup, as it is often designated will be
very apt to stand out above the cIinking
chorus, as the song sparrow is one of our
most abundant birds in winter. He may
easily be identified by the heavy black
streaks on his white underparts which
tend to coalesce in the middle of his breast
bis coat Is not so elegant as that of his
canadian cousin. 1t is of the same mixed
brown, black and gray texture that fur
nishes the material for all the sparrow
suits. but it is dingier. as seems better suit
ed to his lowlier habits. For the song SPAR
row loves the earth, and. though you will
frequently find him i'll the bushes low
trees, yet he is never much at home as
when he is down upon the solid ground.
As he hops among the naked burrows of
a wintry field. he is almost lost to sight so
much part of it does he become. His
bobbing head and tail alone betray his
presence. 1t is in the early spring that he
is a conspicuous feature of the landscape,
and even then he appeals to the rather
than to the eye. From every clump of
bushes at that season comes his canary
like warble. Indeed. SO thoroughly identified
has his song become with the youth of the
year that when. as sometimes, though
rarely. happens. he pipes a little lay in
midwinter. it seems to one who is familiar
with it as though the slumbering earth had
stirred and was about to awaken from it's
long sleep. But the occasional winter notes
We hear from him are very different from
the full ecstatic carol which he delivers
under the inspiration of the final awaken
ing. He is out of practice: his voice is
feeble and husky. and he lacks the stimulus
of the proper environment.
The Carolina Wren.
If, however, the song sparrow's winter
music is a mere suggestion of his real song,
that of the Carolina wren shows no such
difference. This mite of a bird, only
shade larger than his well known cousin,
the house wren, has within his little brown
body compressed energy, force and strength
enough for a bird twenty times his size.
His spirit is unquenchable-utterly i'm
pervious to depressing surroundings.
His loud. clear. spirited whistling is al
ways the same. 1rue, II lS not often nedTu
during the winter months, but when 1t does
ring out among the gray trunks and the
ghost of summer stalks 1t is a clarion of
defiance to the inclement season, and Is as
bright. breezy and musical as in the most
charming days of spring. "Cheerily, cheer
lily, cheerily." This is favorite theme
with him; and as though realizing his mis-
sion a preacher of the doctrine of
healthy oontentment. he pronounces the
words clearly and distinctly, that none may
fail to comprehend the message he bears.
He differs from the house wren in ap-
pearance. principally through his long
whitish eyebrow, his buff vest and the purer
and warmer brown Of his coat. His move
ments, however, are thoroughly wrenlike
and he darts about from point to point
with quick, restless vivacity, the wonder Is
that he has breath enough left for any
song, much less for the loud, vigorous notes
that set the woodland ringing. He is
primarily bird of the wildwood, though I
have known him-or rather her, in this
csse-to raise brood under the roof of a
farmhouse porch, and a second in a half
filled ash barrel in the back yard
The Virginia Red Bird,
Another bird of the solitudes whose voice
is sometimes. though very seldom, heard
in winter is the cardinal grosbeak or Vir-
ginia red bird. The cardinal, as he is
known to his friends, is nearly as big as a
robin, and is dressed from head to foot in
little black about his throat, he is one
cleaning live coal, even to his bill. And
when he is seen in the midst Of a cedar,
whose bright Complementary green accen-
tuates his hue, he seems some gift of Mex
leo OF Brazil to lend tropical color to our
soberer landscape. Hearing his song in
winter is like finding bluet in January
But his Is one of natures real solo voices
and amply repays a trip to the woods Of
March or April when he Is contributing his
powerful contralto tones to the spring con-
cert.
The Blue Jay.
The blue jay does not reserve his vocal
powers for the general jubilee of song He
knows that he has no chance for a prize
in that competitive contest, and hence
does not bother to take any care of his
voice. His coarse, cacophonous Imitation
OF the note of the red-shouldered hawk
may be heard all through the winter Like
the cardinal lie seems out of place in this
latitude. Such gay blue, white and black
carnival attire as he displays he sports
among the three tops OF falteringly flies
across the open, seems strangely cool and
airy Tor the season of warm and sober
clothing. Most Of the birds, In keeping
WIN the character Of the season, doff
their bright holiday robes of spring and
summer, and put on more suitable garb.
But the blue jay is proud of his hand
some suit that he is unwilling to follow
me prevailing fashion Of dressing to suit
the occasion. He knows that blue is be-
coming TO him, and his vanity win not
suffer MIN to lay it by, even temporarily.
And SO he faunts 1t In the face of old
Boreas, calmly satisfied with his fine an
pearance, and unconscious of the criticism
ne excites. The pretty girl with face dis
torted in order to display her dimple, is
MS human counterpart.
Another Northern Visitor.
A richly but appropriately clad little
visitor from the north is the Canadian nut
match His trim. compact coat of graytsn
blue, and his dull red vest are full of sug-
gested warmth, and his demure habits and
quaint little note make him a welcome
guest among us. We feel regret that he
does not visit US more regularly; for some
times one may spend the whole winter in
search OF him, in vain, not even hearing
the nasal "hanh, hanh." which marks his
presence This not strongly resembles the
souna OF the penny trumpet that brings
densht to the soul of the very small bow
al Chrlstmastide, and has the curious effect
or seeming quite distant when the bird il
really close at hand. Should YOU hear n
you must look upon the trunk of some
neiSnboring tree probaby a pine) for ITS
author, and there you will see him indus-
triousiy ciambering up and down and
around, peering into the creyices Of
the bark for some insuficiently conceal