Bird Xotes and their Value 



coming to in the dry marsh beyond these 

 sparse blackberry brambles, with their 

 but half-grown leaves, is the yellow field- 

 mustard; and the other, larger one, fifty 

 paces farther on, of a deeper, richer hue, 

 is the meadow-parsnip. 



As we pass them, going toward the 

 woods, we notice that the mustard bloom 

 is in racemes about the size of a long thim- 

 ble and the parsnip in fiat clusters, Hke 

 elderberry blossoms, but smaller. 



And directly we think what a pity it 

 is that these bluets carpeting the ground 

 hem us in so that we cannot go around 

 them, but must trample them under foot! 



Yet what does it matter, after all? 

 This is a bird-quest we are following just 

 at present, and other things must not be 

 permitted to divert us; for it is nearly 

 sunset and if we would have other light 

 than that of the stars in returning we 

 must keep right at it and hurry. 



Which we do — and are rewarded even 

 earher than we thought to be; for we have 

 hardly entered a narrow, fragrant path 



[45] 



