92 NATURE STUDY. 



calling back and forth, from thicket to thicket, now on this 

 side and now on that, occasionally the note is varied by the 

 full song. 



The road winds by the great hotel, now silent. In front 

 of it are stretches of beautiful green lawns through which 

 are well kept drives. The incoming tide as it dashes on 

 the ledgy shore is viewed through a vista made by a long 

 line of immense willows. 



There is a flicker! Did you catch the golden gleam of 

 his wings? And get a glimpse of the white rump? There 

 is the mate in hot pursuit. Above the broad green lawn 

 they fly, past their former home in that stately willow, 

 they disappear from view in the oak woods. 



The never failing song of the cheery song sparrow rings 

 out full and clear. At any time of day you can see the dear 

 little bird with spotted breast perched on the stone wall. 

 How it throws its little head back and sings for pure joy 

 never heeding the mist, always in good spirits ! An an 

 swering call to its happy trill comes simultaneously from 

 several directions. 



There are some spotted sandpipers, running among the 

 rocks, uttering their sweet, clear whistle. The small flock 

 rises, still whistling, and, wheeling, they fl^^ seaward, and 

 are soon lost in the mist. 



We lose sight of the sea, as we follow the winding road 

 under the shadow of the high, pebbly embankment. On 

 this embankment we surprise a flicker in company with 

 several robins. What are they doing there ? Eating in- 

 sect life ? 



The beauty of the salt marsh now appeals to us in its va- 

 ried coloring. The tall, stiff grasses, with brown, fruited 

 heads, growing in towering tufts amid the generally even 

 mass of billowy, dark, green grass, now swaying in the 

 freshening breeze, so graceful, although so coarse ; next 

 the woods, this green is toned into a soft, purplish red line 



