The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-04-09
about the Birds

To the editor OF the CECIL WING.
One winter dainty little snowflake,
or snow bird, as it is commonly known
came regularly every day feeding on
the ground with the other birds. 1t
never went far away having its abiding
place in clump OF bushes back OF the
house. One morning it failed TO come
and whether proving night marau-
der feathcred or furred had taken it,
or the call OF the North had been too
insistent, we never knew
The wrens are the first pensioners to
appear in the morning. They are shy
and slip and dart about as though
afraid to be seen. Occasionally, one
will get in covered porch through
hole by the door; it never shows any
wild fright at our presence, nor does
il dash against the windows as the
sparrows do when thus discovered. 1t
finds its way out as quietly as a little
brown shadow by the same place it
entered. But they are not the little
house wrcnS which are with us III SUM
Iner; they are the winter wrens which
come from Canada at the approach OF
winter and return to their northern
home in the spring, when our little
jubilant songSters OF the same family
are returning from their southern
travels. Their coloring is noticeably
different.
A number OF authorities write OF the
Carolina wren, which is larger and
handsomer than either Of the two al
ready mentioned as sojourning in this
lut ttJa lr 4 hns GoI-
len to my lot but once to see one
Perched on a bush one snowy Decem-
Der day was what for one astonished
moment mistook ior an English
robin, being miSled by its jauntincss
and reddish breast. \ second look
showed the rustincSs OF the red, and
the long bcak characteristic OF the
wrens. Yet in that instant. memory
blottcd out the snowy scene spread
before the physical eye. and showed
in one OF its marvellous moving pic
lures the place where first saw and
heard the robin red breast oi which
We read in chidhouds stories. There
was an old English inn, where party
OF pedestrians had taken refuge during
a sudden shower AS the clouds
watching the drops still internationally
falling, when suddenly from a building
on the opposite side OF the road, arose
a jubiiant strain; robin OH the ridge
pole was singing song out O1 all pro-
portion to its little quivering body
The thrill OF pleasure at the bird and
its song was intensified by the sun
shine which just then was lighting up
the green fields and wet sparkling
leaves. However, my little rusty viSi-
tor whose coming had rcvivlhcd the
past Tor that instant, tarricd but
short time. Perhaps other residents
OF this locality may often see these
Carolina wrcns i'll the winter, but we
have never since seen one here.
The blue birds whose faint MARBLE,
always conjurcd up visions oi the
spring time, come to cat the poke
berry seeds lett on the blcached and
weakened stems, but never come
among the other birds Tor food scat
tered on the ground.
In addition to the present interest
which attaches to feeding our feather
ed friends, is the evokng OF many a
pleasant memory and the storing away
OF impressions making ior future JOY
In forming these winter friendships,
the blue skies and green leaves Oi
June seem nearer and ii we have help
ed our little visitors they also have
helped us. John burroughs. N writ
ing on this subject. says that in adding
to our knowledge oi bird life we ac-
quirc "a new interest in the fields an
woods, a new moral and intellectual
tonic, a new key to the treasure house
OF nature" Surely. this is worth
while
II. MARIA DAWSON.