Evening star., 1897-02-27
Wbfte-Throated sDarrowa.
H43HEH@E

The style of this phrase is seldom diff
ferent, but the theme affords founda-
tion for innumerable variations, and white
throat allows none of them to escape. If
the word bedlam could be applied to any
thing SO musical and so pleasing, it would
fifty describe the effect produced by a
flock of white throats during. one of their
vernal muscaleS.
Toward the end of March the dude of the
sparrow family makes his appearance upon
the scene, the chipping sparrow, or chippy,
as he is familiarly known by his friends.
and who that lives in the country. or in
smaller towns not yet monopoized by the
English hordes, Is rot friend TO chippy?
Always as spruce and neat as though be
had just arrived from his taiior's. and
sociable that he will place his nest by
choice in the vine over the porch or the
rose bush on the lawn, and will, with a
little announcement, perch. on the porch
rail beside which you are sitting, or even
on your shoulder. it is not strange that
his brownish-red cap and bIushgray waist
coat should be a welcome sight. and the
succession of ball-like high C's sometimes
designate his song, a pleasant sound to
those who know him.
The Flicker. f.
The ficker's song is! like cchippy's,
repetition of high notes Of one pitch, but
how different is it from, chippy's monoto-
nous performance. Heard, as it usually
is, from wood nearby. 1t falls on the
ear like the pedal notes of an organ.
know of no more inspiring sound In ma
ture. 1t is the formal announcement Of
the official herald that spring is here.
Flicker is one of the thirty six names
given to this large woodpecker. AS he
flies away from you he suggests the cot
ton-tail rabbit, owing to the bit OF white
that CLEANS out amidst the dingy light
brown He Is that ne always
presents himself at a disadvantage. for
when you obtain d close inspection of him
face to face land YOU cannot do this with
his corsenD you find that he is not at all
the dull-looking fellow you imagined from
the hasty rear views you have obtained,
but IS quite gaily dressed, yellow, scarlet,
wine color and black being conspicuous
among the colors he wears.
ProfessionaI Insect Catcher.
The catching of insects by sparrows and
others in the first part of March is awk- |
ward and comical. They are not used to
the business and make but sorry figures
at it. But when the phoebe arrives, which
is about the same time. you will. II you
watch him. have chance to compare their
amateurish efforts with the professional
skill and ease with which he pursues the
game He Is the pot-hunter. to whom sue
cess means daily living, and failure star
walton. Every click of his mandibles is
the knell Of winged insect. His gun
never misses fire and his aim is deadly.
How he must smile inwardly when he wit
nesses the rambling and often futile ex-
cursions of these dabsters of early spring
after the elusive morsels for which their
me uths are watering! But when it comes
to celebrating their victories with song
they have their revenge. Phoebe's note is
silvery enunciation of his own name
with the accent usually on the last sylla-
BILE, and never rises to the dignity of a
sorg. Still, as with every sound that an
nounces d new arrival in the spring, it is
very pleasant to hear and appears quite
smooth and mellow after the hoarser imi
tations OF 1t that chickadee has been CIV
ing us for month or two previous.
The King Fisher.
Phoebe, like chippy, enjoys human So
ciety, and attaches his dainty nest, all
succeed with lichens. to the rafters- of
barns or other buildings. He is ready to
take full advantage Of the improvements
that accompany civilization. But the king
fisher. who also arrives during this month,
disdains the effete products of social evo-
luton and lives in the manner and locali-
ties of his primitive ancestors. BY the side
or streams. rivers and ponds you will find
him springtng his watchman's rattle from
the limb of tree on the bank or plying
MS ancient occupation of fisherman In the
III disturbed solitudes To look at him one
might imagine from his high collar and
pc mpadour hair that he was not only up
to date but even extreme in his following
OF the fashions; but 1T must be remember
ed that fashion Is a wheel and his is a
style OF many revolutions back
1t is during March that the crow black
birds begin to darken the air above us
with their immense swarms or settling
dewn for short call upon us in suburbs
or parks. fill the air with noise of such
character that a blind man WHO happened
IN their vicinity might imagine himself in
some pleasant resort, where'.a score or
moro Of rusty iron swings were all in ac-
tive use. With them come large companies
OF robins; though SO many robins winter
In this locality that they are sca atalogued
as permanent residents ofs:Washington and
exar m.ii's, s oy dar the greatest number, now
ever, are merely transifory. visitors in
spring and autumn. those that are to be
seen In winter or In summer ]fteinp ins,p
hosts. 81 sT fe
Spring Flowers
And what of the flowers2 The first blos-
som or the year generally makes its ap-
pearance early In February The skunk
cabbage, and 1t deserves both Names opens
.ne nttie yellow flowers 1t guards within its
purple or variegated spathe oftentimes be-
tween snowfalls. During March 1t is ex-
panding Its Immense leaves. which follow
the mower. though the flower itself may
also oe Iound IN It's swampy woods for q
week or two after the month opens
The hepatica. or Hverwort unf,irIs its
ruzzy spr0ut and floats its blue banner up-
on the hillsfdes at any time from the 1st Of |
re-. reofaary 70 the LIST OF April. according, to
March, however. It Is pretty certain to be
found in Its shady retreats In the last
days OF the month several other flowers
may be gathered.
The small white flowers of the early saxi-
1rage, with Its sticky STEM, which erects
itself from the little rosette of leaves at its
nase oegfn to line the woodland streams.
In the shelter Of low woods the first blos-