Could the compressed, intense, vehement little sprite be expanded to the dimensions of the ordinary folk of air, would the magnified musical and physical representation be as entrancing as are the fleeting glimpses of the fairy and the elusive hints of melody that so nearly escape us now? For this electric spark, like an erratic meteorite of topaz and ruby and gold, “As if inlaid With brilliants from the mine, or made Of tearless rainbows, such as span Th’ unclouded skies of Peristan,” hovering between heaven and earth in a mist created by its own prismatic wings, might almost be believed an exemplification of light itself as scientifically defined, “a form of radiant energy,” and it is the nearest approach to a disembodied spirit that lies within the range of mortal vision. So while it is believed that its song is but a feeble twittering, it may yet be as much musician as it is bird, and emit strains of melody too exquisite and finely drawn for human apprehension, and of which the notes that reach us are but the deeper tones of a delicate and etherial ariose. Juliette A. Owen. EACH IN ITS OWN WAY. There’s never a rose in all the world But makes some green spray sweeter; There’s never a wind in all the sky But makes some bird-wing fleeter; There’s never a star but brings to heaven Some silver radiance tender; And never a rosy cloud but helps To crown the sunset splendor; No robin but may thrill some heart His dawnlight gladness voicing; God gives us all some small, sweet way To set the world rejoicing. —Selected. [Illustration: PARULA WARBLER. (Compsothlypis americana.) Life-size. FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES.] THE PARULA WARBLER. (_Compsothlypis americana._) Hither the busy birds shall flutter, With the light timber for their nests, And, pausing from their labor, utter The morning sunshine in their breasts. —James Russell Lowell. The Parula or Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, as it is sometimes called, is one of the smallest and daintiest representatives of the family of wood warblers. Like the other species of warblers it is one of the last spring migrants to reach its Northern summer home. Retiring and unobtrusive in its habits, it is to be admired for its “plain and modest beauty.” Though delicately colored, its plumage is not nearly so striking as that of many of the other species of the family. It enjoys the higher branches of its woodland retreat, and here it seeks its food. Graceful in all its motions, it flits from branch to branch; hanging by its feet, it peers under the leaves and along the twigs.