The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-07

only the male bird Of any species renders
vocal music II was interesting to make
a comparative study Of the brown thrash
or on the coast with those that migrate
I'm summer ia the NORTH The southern
thrasher need not be ashamed OF his
vocal powers even in case Of comparison
with the celebrated hooking bird.
Granted that he does not possess the
gift Of imitation. at least 10 any marked
degree. yet his tones are powerful. often
oxquisitely sweet and his technical Skin
is sometimes marvellous. Then he infuses
so much passion and righteousness into
his song. For an hour he will descant in
a continuous strain, all his runs and
combinations being strictly original
while the mocker's song Is ierky, spas
modic indicative Of tickle spirit and
almost al his strains are borrowed from
his fellow-mnstrels Of birdland ! do not
mean 10 disparage the mocker's vocal
gifts ] only want to do justice 10 the
throsher which has obvious points OF SUI
periority as a lyrist. Down whore the
gulf breeze blows blandly the thrashers
were busy with their household Duties,
already rearing their families. while their
relatives possessed by the migrating ma
mia. were Just arriving AZ their northern
homes and would scarcely hatch their
first broods for a month.
found the wood thrush more numerous
there than I'm Virginia and their notes
arc rhythmic and more melfuous in that
nearly tropical climate than here IN the
Middle States. Their song IS slow and
deliberate but I'm the richness Of their
trlling and warbing the wood thrush IS
easily the artist Of the American forest.
They dwell and sing in the secluded
haunts and deep ravines Of the woodland
and do not disappear In winter.
Ry the way, where do the linnet tho
catbird. martin. swallow and many others
suend the winter 7 wonder IL any of
these summer individuals first rear n
family I'm the south and then come north
ward later in the season 20 continue the
work Of notification. Twentv-fve years
ago the catbird arrived in Virginia from
his southern winter home about the mid
die of April and the robin had Watched
before the first ~ Nav. Pvt la+forlv tho
former arrives about the first of May ana
tho latter matches about tho first OF June.
SO much for the change OF season in
the late advent Of spring these latter
years. The linnet that was formerly a
welcome summer visitor no longer an
pears in this section: and twenty years
ago 7 could count % varieties Of birds
here in the park while now there arc not
sparrow IS fourishing in the land and that
SIS probably tho cause Did YOU know that
instinct teaches birds 10 return TO the
same premises each succeeding and recur-
ring year where they rejoin their own
families?
GAME PTRDs.
There are game birds here too. be Il
said FOR the benefit Of tho sportsman We
have deer. foxes. turkeys. pheasant (or
rough erouse). quail. snipe woodcock. 70
say nothing % c0ons. opossoms squirrels.
rabbits etc The wild turkey. the nblest
game bird % America. IS hunted with the
setter. which, having scented ther trail.
pursueS 10 rapidly. never opening until
suddenly dashing into the flock, flushing
and scattering tho panic-strcken birds IN
every direction The huntsman then con-
ceals himself noslesslv IN a blind con-
structed Of brush or bushes and after n
silence Of about 20 minutes proceeds 70
call with an imitator made ordinarily OF
dry eTder and turkey wing hone) when the
unwary birds responding TO the call, ap-
proach tho blind and arc shot down.
Deer are multiplying rapidly here IN
southern Virginia. Hunting deer with
hounds IS good sport IN that 81 matches
the Instinct and speed Of one animal
against another and there Is a poetic in
SEPARATION in the sweet echo OF p Winding
horn reverebrating through the wooded
slopes at early dawn and calling up the
responsive music OF the deep-mouthed
deer hounds cheering cry and filling one
with sensations no other sport awakens
and affording a foretaste OF that hide
scribable thrill and frenzy which seize
tho amateur sportsman al the critical mo-
ment causing the buck ague and II he
fires at ali the shot goes wide 81 the
mark Grey foxes abound. bat the reds
from migration and other causes are al
most extinct.
But. after all that which interests any
body most about any country IS Its wo-
men and its homes. and Southern Nir-
rinla has her chief glory In these char
acteristics distinctive during past genera
tons and yet prominent IN tho living
Dresent-a noble womanhood born OF a
land where every man Is sovereign.
every woman IS queen. Indeed. the
indefnable charm and influence OF the
Southern woman never found truer ex-
qualification than here IN the good old
counties Of Prince Edward Nottoway.
Amelia. Cumberland. Dinviddle and T.u-
nenburg. While the Southern girl OF the
old regime may be passing away with
other things that pass and many OF the
old homestcads. relics OF bygone glory.
are Ear from being IN that state OF prince
" elegance which distinguished them in
the DAYS when the Virginia landlord was
monarch OF all no surveyed. tho home
life is -tiii kept up in many cases by a
strict adherence TO old usages. such as
family prayers in which tia servants are
included. tho singing Of HYMNS on Sunday
afternoons thu reading aloud In thu fam
lily circle.
tn. favorite pastlme OF the Southern
virginia girl has ever been the cultivs-
ton and care az flowers. tho favorable
climate giving great opportunity for this.
aud In Iapy Instances The taste extends