Birds and All Nature, Vol. V, No. 4, April 1899. Various

other times the species is more or less gregarious in the regions in which it is numerous. Often a dozen individuals may be found in a company. The extreme seclusiveness of the birds during the day makes it very difficult to find them, and they are undoubtedly more numerous than generally reported, and are likely to be present in many places where their presence is not now suspected. They seek the darkest and most secluded corner possible and remain quiet all day. Their noiseless flight might easily be mistaken for that of the whippoorwill. Let us hope that the good qualities of this owl will be fully recognized before his hiding-place is discovered.

      A SPRINGTIME

      One knows the spring is coming;

      There are birds; the fields are green;

      There is balm in the sunlight and moonlight,

      A dew in the twilights between.

      But ever there is a silence,

      A rapture great and dumb,

      That day when the doubt is ended,

      And at last the spring is come.

      Behold the wonder, O silence!

      Strange as if wrought in a night, —

      The waited and lingering glory,

      The world-old fresh delight!

      O blossoms that hang like winter,

      Drifted upon the trees,

      O birds that sing in the blossoms,

      O blossom-haunting bees, —

      O green leaves on the branches,