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The portion of higlivvay tliat it is necessary to plod, is as speedily as pos- 

 sible left behind and forgotten; and once more, among the grass andi 

 flowers, you hear the sougs of birds and the murmur of insects. How 

 many things theie are to see, and how swiftly the time speeds, as jjlant 

 and bird and insect bespeak your attention. 



And when at length fatigued by rambling, what couch more restful 

 or inviting than tJie soft elastic cushion of sward on the slope of 

 an upland pasture, under the shade of some broad beech or oak, and 

 fanned by whispering breezes from the meadows. Or in the pine grove 

 that crowns the hiU, how luxurious is the fibrous bed of leaves shed 

 from above, year after yeai-, and ho^' grateful the resinous odor of th& 

 air. The shrill continuous song of the cicada may seem the sole sign 

 of life, but it is really one of many. Grains of sawdust trickling down 

 the furrowed bark of an old trunk indicate that a colony of ants are 

 industriously honeycombing, the interior, and closer inspection will 

 show continuous columns ot these little toilers moving between the 

 ground and the upper portions of the tree. A falling cone proclaims, 

 t'le presence aloft of a squirrel which has temporax^ily been in a state 

 of unwonted quiet", but whi h on detection commences to chatter in his 

 most f,aucy tones. A woodpecker's tap, tap is heard faintly in the dis- 

 tance, and other familiar sounds are soon noted and their jjroduceis 

 seen. 



And if, lulled by " the murmuring pines," you should yield to 

 slumber's charms, what cunning explorers will come stealing about you. 

 Little " stripes " the chipmunk, will wink and grin at his cousin 

 " bushy-tail," an I dare him to venturesome deeds, perchance even to 

 scampering over the prostrate giant. The pretty little wood-motise will 

 extend its rambles, from the hollow log in -which it has its next of fine 

 dry grass, to forage for seeds. Wood-creepeis, chick-a-dees, warblers ,^ 

 and perhaps rare birds for which you have long watched and waited^ 

 will s[)ort through the branches above you, anil twitter and chirp their 

 comments on your appearance. 



To observe the varied life of the woods in the closest manner, and 

 to gain a knowledge of the actions and voices of the resident or passing 

 forms, one can do no better than to seek a favorable locality, and then 

 sit or lie motionless until his presence is forgotten, or forgiven. Thfr 



