If you know the haunts of this interesting house builder, scatter some bright sand and tiny pebbles in the water, and when they are deserted, gather the houses for your collection. Rest H. Metcalf. THE ALASKAN SPARROW. There’s a far-away country, a wonderful land That the twilight loves best, where the finger of God Touched the land into shadows; unlighted they stand As they stood at the first over-ocean and sod, And the cloud and the mountain are one; all unheard Is the murmur of traffic, the sigh of unrest, And the King of the land is a golden-crowned bird With a robe of plain brown and an ashy-gray vest. Where the shadows are deepest a musical sound Cleaves their darkness, the song of the golden-crowned King. Never day is so dark but the sweet notes are heard, Never forest so dense but the melodies ring. Sing on, little King of the twilight land, sing, Thy kingdom extend through the oncoming days, Till the spaces between us with music shall ring, And the world hush its breath but to listen and praise. —Nelly Hart Woodworth. [Illustration: ] THE DOWITCHER. (_Macrorhamphus griseus._) The range of the Dowitcher is limited to the eastern part of North America. It has been reported as far west as the Mississippi river. It breeds in the far north, usually within the Arctic Circle. Its migration is extensive for it winters in Florida, the West Indies and in the northern portion of South America. The Dowitcher is one of the best known of our coast birds. It bears many popular names, such as Gray Snipe, Gray-back, Dowitch, Driver, Brown-back and Bay Bird. The generic name Macrorhamphus is derived from two Greek words, makros, meaning large, and rhamphos, meaning bill. The specific name griseus means gray, and probably has reference to the grayish color of the winter plumage.