Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18

AL 0 n G THE ROAD
Sights and Scenes for Those
Who Like Them.
WATCHING THE BIRDS
A WoODCHUCK's FLIGHT FROM A
DOG.
An All-Day Tramp and the Incidents
Fresh Every Minute
or Two.
WATCHING THE BIRDS

Yesterday I tramped for many miles
along country road. The morning was
cloudy, but fresh and cool for the time of
year, and one could stride out in comfort
In passing along the main street of the
village where 1 had spent the night
noticed a number of birds, busy with do
nestle duties Three pairs of orioles were
building their gray, sack-Iike nests in
the pendant branches of the elms which
| arched the road, and a bluebird, with a yell
low grub in his bill, lowered near a bird
box nailed in an apple tree close to first
floor window. In one neatly-kept garden,
with lawn on both sides of the path, there
were two white poles set up III either
lawn. From one 1uttered the American
flag, while upon the other was perched
well-made martin house, around which six
Or eight stately martins sailed in circles,
some Of them singing their soft liquid song,
and at times alighting at what might be
termed the piazZas of the miniature dwell
ing itself. AT one of the upper windows of
their home, two bright children were
eagerly watching the birds, and nudging
one another to notice each movement of the
handsome swallows.
In few minutes I reached the open
country, where, for mile or two the fra
grant daisy fields stretched on either side
o. the road. From these fields the meadow
larks we're calling and the boboinks, ris-
ing and falling, fairly trembled with the
energy of their song. By the sides of the
roads great masses of buttercups were
abloom, taking the place of the dandelions,
whose seeds were flying in clouds before
every gust of wind.
A Cosy Chat.
Crossing q stone bridge I noticed a
phoebe sitting on a telegraph wire nearby,
and taking the hint 1 leaned over the side
to look down upon the back of another lit
tie fycatcher, as she sat upon her nest,
built upon projecting bit of masonry.
She could see me- too, and after fidgeting
for moment, she joined her mate on the
telegraph wire, where both birds were soon
busy pressing their feathers. In the nest
were five pure white eggs, lying in little
bowl of gray felt which, in turn. sur
rounded by mud and moss. l was still look
ing over the side of the bridge, when the
rattle of kingfisher attracted my atten-
ton, and up the river came a streak of
blue which ended at a willow branch
stretching far out over the water. The bird
had a good-szed fish in his bill, and, per-
haps because my presence disconnected him.
he seemed as though he didn't know what
to do with it. But rafting angrily, as a
dog might growl on being interrupted at
a meal, he dropped from his perch and
passed up stream to a more secluded land
ing place.
banks, gay with Robins plantain, and then
it dipped down into hollow, where, in the
wet land on either side, grew myrads of
purple iris. Now and then in some spot
more wet than the rest, little pond would
appear, its stagnant water made interesting
by the reflection of a beautifully clouded
sky and dotting of yellow water lilies.
The Enemy Advances.
Suddenly, the stiffness of the morning
was broken by the yelp of a dog, and look
ing over the fence, 1 saw a big gray wood
chuck tearing through the grass toward
stone wall, with a fox terrier in hot pursuit
The wCodchuck won the race, and with one
terrific whistle, disappeared among the
friendly stones The terrier an instant too
late, was greatly excited, smiling at the
hole where the chuck had vanished. and
dancing about and yapping in his eager
ness. Once or twice he looked at me and
wagged his tail, perhaps with an i'm
preston that l might pull out stone or
two and let him settle his difficulties with
lis foe. But l didn't take the hint and left
him to enjoy the odOr of woodchuck at
safe distance.
Birds We're everywhere, and in good va
riety. About little cottage near the road
side, a pair of yellow Warblers were fitting
and from their actions l suspect that they
had nest in a clump of clderberry bushes
In corner of the garden. Several times
l saw chimney sWifts drop down the Chin
neys of deserted houses and in and out of
the belfry of an old church troop of barn
swallows flew, crying Kitty, Kitty as
they came and went. And once as 1 passed
Well-appointed cottage l a newly
made barn swallows nest plastercd to
slight projection of the woodwork on the
under side of the piazza. Never did hear
so many song sparrows singing in so short
time, and every few minutes l heard the
call of cedar warnings, small fiockS
passed overhead Chipping sparrows, too,
sang with an earnestness worthy of a bet
ter performance, and the vigorous preach
ing of the red-eyed vreo was almost in
ceSsant.
A Pretty Sight.
One OF the most beautiful sights of the
day was field of wild carrots in bloom
with a flock of goldfinches flying low above
1t. One male, in gorgeous yellow and black
plumase, dropped out, and alighting on one
of the lace-like flowers. bore it to the
ground under his weight Both catbirds and
brown thrashers were numerous, and in
full song; the former sweet and apparently
the more earnest; the latter brilliant but
seemingly more affected. Crows were to be
seen occasionally, walking about in the
grass, and once / saw red-ShOuldered
hawk and heard his wild cry as he wheeled
above the tree tops at distance.
Toward evening l came to some wood
| land, where l heard the black-t hroated green
warbler, the bird, and the warbling
| vIreo, and where l saw the flicker go bound
| ing off through the trees. And as the night
| fell, and l sat upon high bank overlook
| ing valley, the voice of whippoorwill
| burst from the gathering mists beneath me-
| and for long time / sat and listened to
| the weird call it rose and fell, as tho
mysterious bird passed from point to point
| on business of his own.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.
The Pope as He Is.