The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-22
MOUNTAIN BIRDS.

MOUNTAIN BIRDS
MRS. HELEN NJ RICHARDSON, in Neto York Observer
Franconia, in New Hampshire, in the months of
June and July is vertable paradise to the bird
lover. 1t was my good fortune last to spend
the month of July on Sugar HILL at the foot of Gar
net Mountain. Previous visits to this charming spot
had been made in August when the birds were gather
ing together in colonies getting ready for their au
tumn fitting, and not prepared for the flood of
melody which greeted my awakening the morning
after my arrival
1t began with the swallows The sweet piercing
notes of what seemed to be army of them fell upon
my ear like the charge from an electric battery
Have the noisy little English sparrows followed me
hereT murmured drowsily. Then with a sigh Of
that intense satisfaction which the consciousness of
weearned vacation always. brings, turned over
for another nap.
But the swallows willed it otherwise "Get mi
get up!" they urged Wondering, uneasily if the
little creatures could possibly be in the ROOM |
dropped off to sleep When I again awoke it was
broad daylight, and my little disturbers were still
urging me to get up! get up!" and had to get up.
crept softly to the window. The blinds were
closed but through the Stats I one of the pref
t1est sights L ever had beheld There on the LEDGE
within reach of my hand stood a mother feeding her
little brood. They stood in if for inspection
with their innocent faces turned towards me so that
l could feast my eyes upon their exquisite coloring
only tantaizing glimpses of which had previously
got during their giddy, cratic flights Someone
has called the coloring of the barn swallow indies
cribale and so, close inspection L found it
to be steelblue and black, chestnut brown with
plnRsh tnge shading to buf-these were the colors
which could study at will from my secure ambush of
closed blinds, and which fairly dazzled with their
glossy brilliancy Every morning my little alarm
clocks were hand with the first ray of sunlight
and again couple of hours later.
Song sparrow, vesper sparrow white-throated spar
row, wood thrush, hermit thrush purple finch gold
finch. robin, buebrd and vireo one after another
added Its liquid note of welcome to the born day
did not even have to walk abroad to find bird
friends. Right in corner of the piazza a bluebird
was rearing her second brood; and there upon the
piazza rail, in her passage to and fro, she would
stand and present for my inspection the worm or the
butterfly with which she was about to regaie her
hungry little ones. Flying lessons were taken before
an admring crowd of onlookers little adventurer
alIghting on my foot in its first cratic flight and
another brushing my with its wing.
From the low-hanging limb of a poplar tree near
by, song sparrow at the same time cnticino
two tiny lutterers out of the nest while up and down
the notified trunk pair of yellow beed sap-suckers
were busily at work opening holes in the bark
around which lowered several butterflies and hum
ming-brd, all awaiting a chance to feast upon the
sap whenever the thrifty wood-peckers were Off
guard. This did not often happen however al.
though the humming birds long, darling bill occa-
slonally succeeded in purloning a sip in spite of
Mr.. Sapsucker's persistent opposition.
Then the feeling of delight to know that the little
brown BIRDS hopping around in the road we're not
the omnipresent English sparrows-not one of them
While they may be found in sufficient numbers along
the railroads. English sparrows have not yet invaded
the mountainous districts and on aristocratic Sugar
Hill the song sparrow still reigns supreme In the
road, IN the field the fence in the tree every.