The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13

this joyous antiphony; one awaits the
others response, and so they continue. al
ternating their pUoudest notes indefinitely,
the spirits OF "Daphnis and Menalcas
sharp contending." Once more the jubi-
liant whistle of the titmouse thrills the
air, and a distant chickadee swings his
censor softly. Chickadee, perchance, seems
less moved than some of his winged con-
temporaries by the spirit of the hour. All
winter he has had another chickadee tag
ging at his heels. with whom ne has held
much whispered colloquy and now they
have quite the air OF Darby and Joan. Yet
at times there is a silvery quirk in his wee
chuckle, and il is not too late fl ne. too,
has some cunning idea of "sprucing up
and playing the lover.
Even the jay has abandoned his cynical
sneer for the musical swing OF the tim
Der song and a species of mewing per-
suasiveness But of all the housekeeping
winter birds the BeWick wren alone appears
TO have sequestered the note of spring
That thin, minor song, delivered with so
quaint meditation and emphasis, hints
Enthusiastically OF marvels yet 10 be; in the
ripping cadence of the modest song spar
row-trilled by the waterside always-the
same silvery thread is to be traced.
OF all March woOeTs. however, none is
more fondly conspicuous than the favorite
bluebird. Along the lanes and in old
orchards he assumes the character of per-
sistent sweetness i'm his vOluble discourse
that is not 10 be denied. His gentle tones
are quite changed from the cain. re-
Elective song of winter days and her re-
Spouse follows family upon his eloquent
Fifteen of these "sly-guided" visitants
may be counted i'm the orchard. divided into
groups of three. which are composed OF
proud she. triumphant he and disconsolate
other But the vanquished sutton Is not
often wont to submit amiably 20 his fate.
and so there are wreathngs OF bright blue
twisted about the apple boughs as one
swain holly pursues the other. and tiny
plumes sealed with heavens own blue are
strewn in the grass. Fain would Aegon
cure a bluebird's heartache by the sword
on little knoll where a few veteran
apple trees are hedged about by wild
thcket, a pair of bluebirds are actually
house huntington perchance the male thus
caps the climax OF his attractions by dis
playing the charms OF a possible abiding
place. In one tree Is smoothly rounded
door which has cost some dOwny wood
pocker many an hours toll. Into this the
bluebird pokes his head. After a critical
survey he retires and sings its praises with
a pcrsuasiveness delightful 10 hear At
length ROsalind cOndescends TO investigate
its merits Now Master Buebird leads the
way TO another tree, where he exhibits a
large jagged orifice in the trunk. He may
or may not be ignorant that here came 10
an untimely end the domestic bliss of a
handsome pair of great-crested fycatchers.
but In he goes 20 show on its roOminess.
Close after him comes meddleSOme tufted
titmouse. fidgeting with all the air Of de-
claring that he had previously made up
his own mind 20 pre-empt that spot for
his nest-for he. too. Is a hole-builder. Fol-
lowing titmouse comes a third bidder on
the scene-a tiny chickadee-whO fits here
ana there ulStracteulN Win a SORT OF isInld
boldness- As bluebird remains I'm possession.
the intrusive pair at last move on and In
quisitively examine the woOdpecker's snug
retreat. Apple tree lodgings certainly
looking up. How these t'Iree Benedicts.
who like a roof over their heads. and are
mainly dependent upon natural decay OF
upon wOOdpeckers' cast-off belongings, must
wonder at the cunning Of his chiselP When
all the WOuld-be tenants have disappeared
10 look elsewhere, possibly, and the blue
birds have set on Oh one or their frequent
SIX NoNageS- / moved look in
upon the vacant premises As 1 peer into
the wOOdpecker hole, loud indignant note
from the wood hardly seems 20 indicate
that the owner Is not indifferent 10 who
spies upon his work Meanwhile. April
will declare who kecps house there
ELIZABETH NUNEMACHER-