A MIDWINTER WALK. 



[three days later.] 



The alert student of nature finds her versatile 

 in her resources of surprise. On the fourteenth of 

 January, 1891, three days after the tramp described 

 in the last chapter, I met with several interesting 

 experiences which prove this. Comfortably clad 

 and shod with tall rubber boots, I trudged off 

 through the melting snow. To my surprise I 

 found the tufted titmice, which, it will be I'emem- 

 bered, were not to be seen anywhere on my previ- 

 ous visit to this place, when the woods were clad 

 in ermine. They were as gay and agile as ever, 

 and almost broke into song. 



My theory of their absence on the twelfth has 

 been hinted at, but in the light of later discoveries, 

 I wish to repeat it and confirm it more fully. These 

 birds are no snow-waders like the juncos and tree 

 sparrows — not they ! They prefer a bare twig to 

 perch on. Those birds that want to plod through 

 banks of icy crystals may do so, but as for the 



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