A MISTY MORNING S FIND. 95 



spruce, bathed and dripping with sparkling mist, we dis- 

 cover four golden crowned kinglets ; flitting about, talking 

 to each other, they shake down the hanging drops by their 

 constant activity. A flock of these tiny birds not seen in 

 Manchester woods since January, but here seen in July ! 

 Ver}'- thoroughly they go over the whole tree, giving little 

 attention to us. Returning another day w^e find them in 

 the same woods. 



The ever restless chickadees are in company in adjoining 

 evergreens. A female Maryland yellow-throat appears, 

 looking somewhat bedraggled but in good spirits, for over 

 by the brook her little black masked husband is giving his 

 resonant call 



The shady path brings us to a barrier — a high rail fence. 

 Having climbed the fence we enter the Cathedral woods. 

 We appreciate this woodland Cathedral the more from the 

 fact of the difficult access. A brown, pine-needle carpet 

 covers the floor, deadening the sound of footfalls, bidding 

 the senses drink in the solemn grandeur. Overhead the 

 green boughs meet in protecting majesty, giving glimpses 

 of the grey and blue frieze of the sky. The brown tree 

 trunks let in the slanting rays of early morning light. 



The weird, long loved trill of the Wilson's Thrush ap- 

 peals us to with renewed beauty and neither detracts or adds 

 to the entirely different, but peculiar, charm of -the high 

 clear leisurely note of the hermit. The trill emanates and 

 pervades the place with its rolling cadences of beauty. 



Equally pleasing are the exquisite modulations of the 

 strains of the shj'er cousin of woodland solitude, for how- 

 ever remarkable yet distinctly characteristic each song may 

 be, with equal charm it appeals to me, and does not suffer 

 by comparison in forest depths. 



Here let us rest content, and look and listen. Gradual- 

 ly brightening, the slanting sun's rays pierce the gloom, 

 and glorify the beautiful whole. 



