Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/73

 58 Bird -Lore feathers of small birds and of the fledgling Flickers. There were six eggs, neatly arranged in triangular form. These eggs all seemed dead ; though one or two may have still been alive, (^ne was infertile. Various stages marked the incubation, which, in two eggs, amounted to perhaps one -fourth. At neither of the first two nests did I ever see the male. Nor did I, at the third nest, after my first visit, find him at home, though making several visits at different times of the day. These observations leave one in perplexity as to the normal nesting-date of the Acadian (^wl in northern Minnesota. All the dates given above are inconclusive. One may, perhaps, be permitted to infer that this little Owl who has so warm a place in our affections is rather a nomad and erratic, though loving tenaciously his one-time nesting place; and that the nesting times are quite uncertain. This much, at least, is fairly sure: that acadica loves the wooded streams, and that a Flicker hole is his great desideratum. Open cavities are too insecure, and smaller artificial holes too small. The pretty sight of a mother Saw -whet squeezing her way into a good -sized Flicker hole gives us a fair gauge of the size of this, the smallest and most attractive of American Owls. The Song Sparrow By the road in early spring Always hopefully you sing; It may rain or it may snow. Sun may shine or wind may blow, Still your dainty strain we hear — "Cheer — Cheer — Never, never fear. May will soon be here." Darling little prophet that you are When at last the leaves are out And wild flowers all about. Songs of other birds are fraught With the spirit that you taught. Still you sing on sweet and clear — "Hear — Hear — Happy, happy cheer. Singing all the year." Jocund little brother of the air. LvNN Tkvv Spracue.