WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.120
<v Speaker 1>Section twenty two of Birds and All Nature, Volume seven,

2
00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:10.919
<v Speaker 1>number two, February nineteen hundred. This is a LibriVox recording.

3
00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.880
<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

4
00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:20.920
<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording

5
00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:26.719
<v Speaker 1>by Betty B. A Winter Walk in the Woods Anne W. Jackson.

6
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.359
<v Speaker 1>Last week I had the good fortune to be invited

7
00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:33.119
<v Speaker 1>with two other girls to spend a few days in

8
00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.320
<v Speaker 1>the country. We hailed the invitation with delight and accepted

9
00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:40.119
<v Speaker 1>it with alacrity, for we all three loved to get

10
00:00:40.119 --> 00:00:44.240
<v Speaker 1>out in the woods and fields. We started on Friday afternoon,

11
00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.640
<v Speaker 1>going the first part of the journey by train. The

12
00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.759
<v Speaker 1>sky was cloudy, in the weather mild. We watched the

13
00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.359
<v Speaker 1>moving pictures that sped by the car windows as eagerly

14
00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:58.679
<v Speaker 1>as children. After a half hour's ride, we arrived at

15
00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:03.439
<v Speaker 1>a little town insisting of the station, one store, one house,

16
00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:08.079
<v Speaker 1>one grain elevator, and a blacksmith's shop. Here our hostess

17
00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:10.719
<v Speaker 1>met us with a surrey and pear, and we were

18
00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:14.200
<v Speaker 1>soon driving along at a brisk pace, drinking in the

19
00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:18.599
<v Speaker 1>fresh air and country scenery with pure delight. The person

20
00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.200
<v Speaker 1>whose power of enjoyment in little things has become blunted,

21
00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:25.959
<v Speaker 1>is greatly to be pitied. Ours was as keen as

22
00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:29.680
<v Speaker 1>though newly sharpened for the occasion, and nothing we saw

23
00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:33.280
<v Speaker 1>from the fields, trees and hedges to the setting sun

24
00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:37.000
<v Speaker 1>failed to give us pleasure. A merry drive of three

25
00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:40.079
<v Speaker 1>or four miles brought us to the farmhouse, where we

26
00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:43.280
<v Speaker 1>were cordially welcomed. I should like to tell you about

27
00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:45.879
<v Speaker 1>all the fun we had that night, for it was

28
00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:49.760
<v Speaker 1>our hostess's birthday, and there was a surprise party at

29
00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:53.200
<v Speaker 1>which we were as much surprised as she was. But

30
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.480
<v Speaker 1>as it is our walk I'm going to tell about,

31
00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:58.920
<v Speaker 1>I must leave the events of our first evening unrelated.

32
00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:02.760
<v Speaker 1>Next morning, we three girls decided to take a walk,

33
00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:06.159
<v Speaker 1>as we were anxious to see what birds there were about.

34
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:09.759
<v Speaker 1>It was a gray day, threatening rain, and very wild

35
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:13.159
<v Speaker 1>for December. The moment we set foot out of doors,

36
00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:17.680
<v Speaker 1>the distance kaw of the crows sounded like an invitation

37
00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.120
<v Speaker 1>in our ears. How I love that sound. It is

38
00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:23.800
<v Speaker 1>to the ear what a dash of color is to

39
00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:26.840
<v Speaker 1>the eye. We took the road to the right, where

40
00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:29.000
<v Speaker 1>we saw some woods a quarter of a mile or

41
00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.400
<v Speaker 1>more away. Before we had gone far we heard a

42
00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.360
<v Speaker 1>medley of bird notes coming from the fields on our left.

43
00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:38.400
<v Speaker 1>We couldn't make out what they were, as they were

44
00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.319
<v Speaker 1>some distance away, but I caught a note now and

45
00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.800
<v Speaker 1>then that sounded like a fragment of the meadow lark's song,

46
00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:49.800
<v Speaker 1>just a faint reminiscence of it. After passing two pastures

47
00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:52.599
<v Speaker 1>and a cornfield on our left, we came to a

48
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.199
<v Speaker 1>piece of thin timber land. The road which began to

49
00:02:56.280 --> 00:03:00.319
<v Speaker 1>descend here had been cut down somewhat, leaving bangs more

50
00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.120
<v Speaker 1>or less steep on either side. We went along slowly,

51
00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:08.800
<v Speaker 1>stopping frequently to examine the beautiful mosses and lichens which

52
00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.840
<v Speaker 1>abound it. We had seen no birds, with the exception

53
00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:16.439
<v Speaker 1>of a woodpecker at close range, Yet presently we came

54
00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.719
<v Speaker 1>to a turn in the road which led us up

55
00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:22.520
<v Speaker 1>a slight rise of ground, bordered on both sides by woods.

56
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.520
<v Speaker 1>Arrived at the top of this hillock, we loitered about,

57
00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:30.039
<v Speaker 1>looking at the many interesting things that are always to

58
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:33.280
<v Speaker 1>be seen in the woods. All at once we were

59
00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:37.159
<v Speaker 1>startled by a shrill scream or cry which sounded like

60
00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:41.840
<v Speaker 1>some young animal being strangled, And behold an immense hawk

61
00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.840
<v Speaker 1>flew off over the tree tops It didn't fly very far, though,

62
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:49.680
<v Speaker 1>and gave us more of its music at intervals. The

63
00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:52.319
<v Speaker 1>road from this point led down to a small brook

64
00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:56.560
<v Speaker 1>spanned by a wooden bridge. Looking down toward this bridge,

65
00:03:56.759 --> 00:04:00.439
<v Speaker 1>a gorgeous sight met our eyes. A flock of cars

66
00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:04.000
<v Speaker 1>half a dozen or more were flying and sporting about

67
00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.319
<v Speaker 1>among the low bushes near one end of it. What

68
00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.960
<v Speaker 1>a delicious touch of color for a winter landscape. There

69
00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.360
<v Speaker 1>were chickadees, too, hopping about among them in a most

70
00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:19.800
<v Speaker 1>neighborly fashion. We watched them closely, quietly, drawing nearer and nearer.

71
00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:23.399
<v Speaker 1>Pretty soon they flew into the trees close by, and

72
00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:26.920
<v Speaker 1>from thence deeper into the woods, we saw and heard

73
00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:31.319
<v Speaker 1>many woodpeckers, both the downy and the hairy, being very plentiful.

74
00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:34.199
<v Speaker 1>As the place where we had seen the red birds

75
00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.759
<v Speaker 1>was such a pretty one, we were in no haste

76
00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:40.199
<v Speaker 1>to leave it even after they had departed, So we

77
00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.399
<v Speaker 1>perched ourselves on top of an old rail fence and

78
00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:45.800
<v Speaker 1>waited for some birds to come to us and be

79
00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.040
<v Speaker 1>looked at. We hadn't been there very long before some

80
00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.680
<v Speaker 1>tufted tit mice came into the trees near us and

81
00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:56.279
<v Speaker 1>delighted us with their cheery notes and cunning ways. The

82
00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.439
<v Speaker 1>kaw of the crows was quite loud here, and with

83
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.879
<v Speaker 1>the added notes of the woodpeckers and chickadees, made it

84
00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.319
<v Speaker 1>quite lively. Every once in a while a few drops

85
00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:09.279
<v Speaker 1>of rain would fall, but this only added to the

86
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.680
<v Speaker 1>wildness of our surroundings and seemed to put us further

87
00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:16.600
<v Speaker 1>away from the rest of the world. Though we found

88
00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.240
<v Speaker 1>our rural perch very enjoyable, we felt obliged to move

89
00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:24.600
<v Speaker 1>on again, however reluctantly, so we crossed the bridge and

90
00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.879
<v Speaker 1>climbed the hill beyond. A short walk then brought us

91
00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:31.000
<v Speaker 1>to another turn to the right, but on the left

92
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:34.399
<v Speaker 1>and open gate into the woods. We lost no time

93
00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:37.439
<v Speaker 1>in turning in here. You may be sure we found

94
00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.759
<v Speaker 1>many more birds inside the woods than we had along

95
00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:45.319
<v Speaker 1>the road. Here were tit mice, chickadees, plenty of nut hatches,

96
00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:49.800
<v Speaker 1>white breasted, hairy and downy woodpeckers, and also a third

97
00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:53.319
<v Speaker 1>kind that we were uncertain about. Its upper parts looked

98
00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:56.199
<v Speaker 1>like black and white shepherd's plaid, and the back of

99
00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.199
<v Speaker 1>its head and nape were deep red. Its note was

100
00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:03.279
<v Speaker 1>the sonorous cow, cow, Cow, Cow, Cow. We heard brown

101
00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:07.480
<v Speaker 1>creepers about, and saw many flocks of juncos. When we

102
00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:09.639
<v Speaker 1>came to the end of the woods, we saw a

103
00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:13.639
<v Speaker 1>pair of our cardinals flying about some low brushwood. It

104
00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:17.360
<v Speaker 1>was like seeing old friends. I must not forget to

105
00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:20.560
<v Speaker 1>mention the blue jay, who added his voice in brilliant

106
00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:24.160
<v Speaker 1>color to the pleasure of our walk. We had entered

107
00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.800
<v Speaker 1>a cornfield, and as we advanced, flocks of little birds,

108
00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.480
<v Speaker 1>mostly juncos, would start up before us and fly into

109
00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:35.959
<v Speaker 1>the hedge or next field, twittering gaily. Twice we heard

110
00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:39.639
<v Speaker 1>distinctly the goldfinch's note, but as the birds all flew

111
00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.319
<v Speaker 1>up at our approach, we couldn't get near enough to

112
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.439
<v Speaker 1>distinguish them. It seemed very odd to hear this summary note.

113
00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:51.319
<v Speaker 1>Amidst that wintry scene. We crossed the cornfield and came

114
00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:54.759
<v Speaker 1>to a fence at right angles, following which took us

115
00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.720
<v Speaker 1>in the direction of the road. Just as we came

116
00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.759
<v Speaker 1>up to a few scattered trees art in the field

117
00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.360
<v Speaker 1>and part in the pastures on the other side of

118
00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:07.199
<v Speaker 1>the fence, we again heard our medley chorus of many voices,

119
00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.319
<v Speaker 1>some of which had reminded us of the meadow larks.

120
00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.480
<v Speaker 1>The members of the chorus who proved to be the

121
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:17.720
<v Speaker 1>meadow larks cousins. The rusty blackbirds settled in these trees

122
00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:21.199
<v Speaker 1>and gave us a selection in their best style. Some

123
00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:25.160
<v Speaker 1>of the solo parts were really sweet. After climbing a

124
00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.759
<v Speaker 1>rail fence, we crossed a small pasture and looked in

125
00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:32.759
<v Speaker 1>vain for a gate, nothing but barbed wire. We finally

126
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:35.959
<v Speaker 1>made our escape through a pig's corn pen, from whence

127
00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:39.319
<v Speaker 1>we emerged into another pasture where the grass was like

128
00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.879
<v Speaker 1>the softest carpet to our feet. This pasture had a

129
00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:46.560
<v Speaker 1>gate opening on to the road, so we were very

130
00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:49.959
<v Speaker 1>soon back again at the house with appetites for dinner

131
00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:53.920
<v Speaker 1>fully developed. We saw and heard no less than fourteen

132
00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.759
<v Speaker 1>different kinds of birds during our walk, so those who

133
00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:01.199
<v Speaker 1>desired to see birds need not to spare of finding them.

134
00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:04.759
<v Speaker 1>Because it is winter, Nature always has plenty of beautiful

135
00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:07.759
<v Speaker 1>things to show us, no matter what the time of year.

136
00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:11.079
<v Speaker 1>My story ought to end here, but I must tell

137
00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.600
<v Speaker 1>you about the tufted tits we saw next morning. The

138
00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.680
<v Speaker 1>weather turned very cold that night, and in the morning

139
00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.839
<v Speaker 1>a keen wind was blowing, so we didn't think many

140
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:24.480
<v Speaker 1>birds would be about, but hearing some chickadees in the yard,

141
00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:27.839
<v Speaker 1>we ventured out and went across the road, where we

142
00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.480
<v Speaker 1>sat down in the shelter of a large corn crib.

143
00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:35.240
<v Speaker 1>From here we saw plenty of chickadees, tit mice, nuthatches,

144
00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:39.679
<v Speaker 1>and other woodpeckers busily engaged in hunting their breakfasts. We

145
00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:43.120
<v Speaker 1>had a fine opportunity of studding them with our glasses.

146
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:46.399
<v Speaker 1>One bold tit stole a grain of corn from the

147
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:49.080
<v Speaker 1>crib and carried it off to the tree in front

148
00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.639
<v Speaker 1>of us, where he took it in his claw and

149
00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:55.639
<v Speaker 1>proceeded to pick the choicest morsel out of it. Presently,

150
00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:59.399
<v Speaker 1>another tufted rogue flew up, and there were some passages

151
00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:02.840
<v Speaker 1>of arms and to flight into another tree, and in

152
00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:06.480
<v Speaker 1>the midst of the fray alas the corn was dropped.

153
00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:14.039
<v Speaker 1>End of Section twenty two.