Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-09


 To be in closer touch with a few forest birds, and to be, if possible a bit near CT the direct line of local migration, we have again pitched our tent at close range in full view of the entire west ern sweep of our woods. Now, if a gun is fired anywhere in the home covers before October 15 by lawless Southbridge gunners, or by village ir- responsibles, we can be quickly on the scene of action. There are wind breaks of birch north and east of us. but stretching away from our vision towards the south there are miles of upland pasture. It is getting down pretty close to Nature when there is not house, barn, or shed in sight, though there are certain chattels that always go handy of stove. icebox, and couch -hammocks. In the shade of the tent are four kinds
 of berries. and the best show of edi- ble mushrooms I have seen since I used to gather puffs and agarics by the peck from the Spore-laden pastures of
 Nauyaug and Groton Long Point. Dear fungous children of a single night, and darlings of the autumn rain. In the fall I always have a pinch of salt in
 my pocket and during long walks peel
 the skin from a pathway umbrella and
 keep from being hungry in this potato
 less neighborhood. Many a time when
 having a baby mussel-bake on the
 sands of Mumford's cove, or quick lunch of lttle-necks or cup-oysters at Poquonoc river, have I added a keener Zest to the al fresco food by a hand full of October Drowned button agarics Beloved Robert Brown, who taught us to distinguish the field and beefsteak mushrooms, and who shared with me the treasure beds of Macedonia and Shinnecosset covel The merits of his
 IL yams, and mushroom catsup, I here proclaim, and can give the recipe to all good trenchermen. If in winter, an old cock partridge or trio of quail a. few times got in the traps set for skunks, we knew no game warden then and broil a brace of birds before he could pick one.
 The camp guardians were the king birds that nested in the nearest apple trees by the side of the nath and raised four kinglets, three being the usual number. The kingbirds screamed a timely warning at the approach of man or beast, and in jiffy were on the back of every luckless crow, owl or hawk that ventured outside the woods. The few mosquitoes of a dry season were picked up by the devils darning needles, and these mosquito hawks " CIS III tul Il S4IdpPS0 uP Oy Iilc hliS birds. From their lookout station op the dead twigs on the top of their apple tree home we have repeatedly seen the kingbirds capture & needle, give it dexterous toss and, with a mighty effort, bolt the big insect. Hornets were attracted by our peaches, melons and plums, but the kingbirds made short work of these. We cannot wonder that tyrant fly catche-s are scarce in many places when we remember how merciIessly they were once killed by bee keepers. When I was just old enough to aim an old muzzla loader by resting it on a window sill a Preston City farmer used to station me at his kitchen win dow and I was made to shoot every bee martin that came near the apiary. Kingoirds were abundant in those days, and the slaughter was l great, as nearly every farm had two or three hives.
 To save tho nesting swifts from harm, no fires were kindled in our summer kitchen at the Quail Trap this season. We could not afford to miss the baby swallow-talk in the hues, nor tf1s busy twittle of the sextette of old birds at nightfaH Following the line of woods. and flying low, there was a small flight of nighthawks to the south during the last ten days in August. These birds flew when it was almost