MAPLE SUGAR MAKING. 



171 



scald and house the buckets and storage tubs. What a 

 transformation will have taken place in the woods dur- 

 ing the two or three weeks' absence ! The roads and 

 paths are no longer familiar. The leaves that have 

 put forth, as by magic, have changed the appearance of 

 everything. One hardly knows the old sugar camp, so 

 altered are all its surroundings. It has become like a 

 scene of enchantment. Shady bowers and leafy grot- 

 toes are on every side. One can hardly see the sky 

 through the dense foliage of the beeches and maples. 

 It is the season of the migration of the Dendroicas. 

 These bright-winged birds flitting through the branches 

 give a topical look to the scene. Prominent among 

 them are the Blackburnian warblers, with throats of 

 flame. The yellow-rumped warbler, like a rainbow in 

 color, hsps his thin song high in the tree-tops. 



The red-start, with black and orange contrasting with 

 the bright yellow, displays to advantage this rich 

 plumage as he opens and shuts his wings like the large 

 showy butterflies, which he much resembles. The 

 scarlet tanager carols serenely from his perch in a tall 

 tree, or sits among the low branches earnestly and 

 almost sadly calling, " chip, herd ! chip, herd ! " until 

 a companion answers the call, when away they fly, to 

 give color to another part of the woods. The partridge, 

 now from his unseen log, beats his muffled drum just 

 beside the path. The chipmunks have lost their fear, 

 knowing their safe hiding-places so near at hand, and 

 will saucily chipper almost under your feet. Thousands 

 of honey bees hum about the ropy sap that is still ooz- 



