New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-21
THE FIRST BIRDS AND BUDS.

rhsra has been considerable discussion as
which may be considered the first flower OF scrins-
AS a matter Of "a It. there Is first flower Vege-
tation really never ceases Ihoreau 1ouhd me
SteIIaria media or the common chickweed, IN
blossom in every month of winter so tnat IL ap-
parentIy never The trailing arbutus ana
blue Hepatica both form their flower ouas inc
last thing in autumn. that they VIII come INTO
flower any month during the winter, when they
are exposed 70 the heat and SUM- II they ara
dug up of the icy forest EARTH and brousne INTO
the house, they Will blossom in the WINDOW. Inc
CIaytonia virginica opens it's pretty pink blossoms
which springs from its deep bulb. early in April AT
about same the white blood root blossoms
In ordinary years these flowers are in bloom on
April 1. Natura.ists say that the coming OF oiros
and the opening OF buds may be delayed - iohs
as thirty days in unfavorable seasons neh
the weather is favorable the robin song sparr0"
and bluebirds arrive from the South IN the lrsA
week Of March, and build their nests from The dry
grasses which are then abundant: the roplE also
uses adobe or wet clay to form his The gor-
geous yellow spotted tortoise has begun cy tnis
time 10 stir in the bitches The dOwny woodpscksr
is already hammering at the bark OF the tree UNI
derneath which the running of the tree mas
o7-a,sned insect life Early birds are Otter seen
Ions, before this time. ThOreau speaks OF hearing
the song sparrow the second day OF Fe5ruary;
Collins or bluebirds in February. 1t has long peer
surmlsed by naturasts that these are n b e foo
feeble in the fall to take long southern jour
ney Put nave nave FROM borea blasts in hollows the
1re,as ana Elsewhere, with the mulujudeS OF WIZ,
ter birds who protect themselves IN TINS way anu
secure a scaut living from the berries anu SSsuS
~ plants that project from beneath the STOW
Chickadeas nuthatcheS and other WlnIer Dlr1s az
a snnOcratfc crowd. who accept any SIrdnSe LII
many and unite in fockS with bros or alien ssno
snd habit i'm their efforts TO escape the Edr lsilps
~ winter and secure food and warmth n tue 30
yere weather. The tiny gold crested kIhSiet otsu
almost as small as the hUmmtng olrq oraVSS III
everest winter and leaves for the Nortn aS 500"
as the weather gets warm N -.,-i- .. sser,
The first birds and first howeTS OF SPtIlS ss.-e
IN appear in abundance at ABOUT lhe saLnS -sste
ne earIv yellow violet, that blossom OF INC -
woods which Is lOuhU SiN--N9
the sunny brown mold hi troxr
sSyThen woods the blue birds warole KNOW;
oT+en aDpears as early the nrSt wees OF s7-
in Adirondack Businesses IL anIedateS al 49,
aran the first blue violetS- There Is M -.
cow 70 which Bryant alluGes II his mes &c -
1rstIovT which begins:
'N SvT-hen beechen buds begin TO swell -
II is said that the female blue1lrds eollS si 70
,ba North in advance Of the males Lhey -
sa1ert tbe location OF their nests Inc Hat1 -
Soss little toward preparing the cosey ply c"A 80
~ boIa in tie hOspitabe pear or dPpe -.
6ar the female bird builds her nest 9ut re ",
WIZ ~ dnrint the entire period Win nus so,.,
artye song freighted with all the gSon ss an.
GEM xS this is one the first II IS also y,e
tSs most delightful OF all bird nosss. ~
man or woman cannot De coHSIaS. Gu
has not Lowell heard the 9ius s ,S
..Snlftlug his light Load OF sVns a-tsss fence
E'rom most post along the cHeei'e0 ~