Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1909 — Spring Visitors. [ARTICLE]

Spring Visitors.

Fowler Republican. In the east part of town a pair of robbins came during the early days of April and built themselves a roomy nest in the crotch of a great maple tree. They were a plump and prosperous looking pair with chests that protrude even as that of the lady at the cprset counter and a red waistcoat Apiece that fitted as snugly as the trunk hose fits the well-conditioned chorus girl. A company of English sparrows t£at twittered with a Cockney accent and lived in more or less discord in » row of flats perched under the eaves of a nearby mansion, noted the robbins and their new home with envy. They saw with astonishment the Spacious and graceful lines of the .hotne in the treetop and failed not tp note how breezy and cool it looked -In its detached situation and how comfortably it rocked when the wind swayed the maple tree back and forth in the sunshine. All this they saw and decided they would have it for their own. Accordingly a delegation from the Sparrows’ Union swooped down on the mansion one fine morning and invited the occupants to move. A lively battle ensued and to their astonishment the sparrows found themselves routed. Then began a regular siege. Sentinels kept watch of the new nest day and night and whenever the robbins went out marketing or took a stroll through the town the sparrows came and took possession, only to be driven out when the real owners returned. At last a horde of the sparrows descended on the robbins and a fierce battle ensued in which the former again met inglorious defeat, since which time the robbins have been left In undistrubed possession of their hardly won domicile. The robbins were the first of the migratory birds to return to us this spring and are about the only ones which now remain in this neighborhood in large numbers, the other feathered creatures being less valorous, having been literally „ frightened away by the impudent sparrow. At this time of year however many migratory birds stop to pay us a brief visit and the trees along the streets and by-ways harbor many strange and brilliant guests for a brief sojourn. —— —: Among these none are more beautiful than the redstart or oriole, as it iB sometimes called, because of its resemblance to the Baltimore oriole of gorgeous orange plumage. This brilliant little creature may occasionally be seen these days darting like a flame through the green boughs and dividing honors for picturesque effectiveness with the yellowbird, familiarly known as the wild canary.

Then there is the catbird, the wood thrush and the kingbird or bee martin, one of the sweetest singers in the whole feathered choir. There is an Infinite variety of the thrush family, all musically gifted, and a bird called the yellow-throat warbler which is not only beautiful but has notes as sweet and soft as that of any thrush. If you are very keen of vision and love birds enough to be on the watch for them along the country drives at present you may also catch an enchanting glimpse of the scarlet tanager, whose splendid plumage burns like a jewel amid the green of the trees and once in a while a real Baltimore oriole flashes from bough to bough. The stately woodpecker is one of the most magnificent of all birds, his smart black and white coat and his crimson plume, as well as his pride and dignity of bearing, making him conspicious among his fellows. To preserve the migratory song birds from the jealous onslaughts of the city sparrows is the annual spring task of many of the bird lovers in the community and not a few have been rewarded by finding their shade trees filled with nests and vocal with wild bird notes in the springtime. “Apendlcitls is caused from top mych sleep,” say* a physician. Every pjly should endeavor not tp win the apendicltis pennant. I Hml ■.-TAuTOraWK . V *'