Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-01-11
BRATTLEeoRo BIRD CLUB.
Winter Walks on the Mountain by
Some of Brattleboro's Nature
Lovers,

Some of eratteboros Nature
Lovers.
At the meeting of the Brattleboro
Bird club, held with Mrs. Crowell last
Monday evening, the family of fly
catchers was studied, by means of Sc
lected readings, mounted specimens
and nests.
Report was made of a robin which
had been seen only a day or two be-
fore, by the railroad track near the
mouth of West river feeding on bit
ter-sweet berries, and singing as
though perfectly Contented with his
surroundings.
Two more species of birds were re-
ported as belonging to the list given
last week in the local papers-the
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher and the Log
gerhead Shrike. This makes the
whole number of species reported 1856
After the more formal part of the
program had been given, the club lis
tened with great interest to the ac-
count of two walks on the mountain
taken within a few days by party
of Brattleboro nature lovers.
}. The snow and crust having filled
the hollows with a firm, yet elastic
cushion, the walking proved easier
than during the summer, and the
great swamp and gorges at the north
ern end of the mountain, as in the
vicinity of Hog brook, inaccessible at
most seasons of the year, being now
frozen over, the party explored the
whole region.
Among the birds seen or heard dur
ing these trips were chickadees, nut
matches, hairy and downy woodpeck-
ers, pine grosbeaks and ruffed grouse.
But the chief interest of these
walks seems to have centred in a
study of the tracks which ran over
the snow in every direction, yet lead
ing, many of them, up to the open
water. The moccasin-like track of
the fox, sometimes going straight
ahead, sometimes in a zigzag course,
as though on the scent of game; the
tiny footprints of the mice; the run
ways of the squirrels, converging
often to pile of stones at the base
of some tree the stamp of the rab-
bits leaps, two sizes of these, showing
two species: all these and many
others, some recognized, and others
not known were evidences that the
woods were filled with life. and
brought to the eXcursionists a most
enjoyable sense of companionship.
After finding these tracks, the noun
tain no longer seemed solitary or lone
tsome, but fairly alive, and eyes and
es,Rs were strained to catch some fur
ther tokens of these denizens of the
woods, but in vain, they were all in
hiding. many of them, doubtless,
watching from their holes and dens,
with bated breath, till their supposed
enemies should have passed by.
That the pleasure of the excursions
might not be all on one side, bounti-
full supply of corn was carried on the
second trip, and left in some of the
runways and feeding places discover
ed during the first expedition; a well
come change, one would suppose, from
the half-eaten, frozen apples which
were found tucked away here and
- ,ers in various places.
ire and warm drink added TO the
enjoyment of the lunch eaten in the
winter forest. on the snow.
ITO him who, in the love of nature, holds
Communion with her visible forms, Sue speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence OF beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings with mild
And gentle sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness, are he Is aware"