CHAPTER XXVIII 

 ON THE SHORE 



I)Y the first of August, bird housekeeping was over 

 at Orchard Farm. Tlie Barn Swallow had guided her 

 last brood through the hayloft window, without having 

 it closed upon her as she had feared. The friendly 

 Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the 

 quiet of the woods. The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, 

 were quite silent and invisible ; of all the voices that 

 had made the last three months so musical, the Red- 

 eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in 

 singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes. 



'' Rap says that August is a poor month for birds 

 about here," said Nat to his uncle ; '' do you think 

 there will be more of them down at the shore? " 



" That we cannot tell until Ave go there, but we are 

 likely to meet some of the Wading and Swimming Birds 

 who have nested in the far North, and are on their 

 southward journey. If the weatlier is pleasant, they 

 often pass by far out at sea ; but if it is foggy or 

 stormy, they may stop awhile to rest and feed." 



" Do many of these birds nest near our beach? " 



"A few, but the greater number breed further north. 

 Olaf will show us Herons in the island woods, and 

 where the Rails nest in the reeds, near the Marsh 

 Wrens, a mile or two up the river. Some day Avlien it 



357 



