TWlben Grass is Green 



were discarding their tree-nesting habits and 

 associating with the bank-swallows. I was not 

 surprised when I first heard the suggestion, but 

 do not now incline to think it correct; but cer- 

 tainly the two species are often most intimately 

 associated. 



The marsh-wrens were all excitement and mirth. 

 The storm could not disturb them, and their sing- 

 ing was as incessant as the lapping of the little 

 waves upon the sides of the boat. They, too, 

 were tame, and it is one of the charms of bird- 

 music when we feel that birds are welcoming us, 

 and not scolding because we intrude. A tame 

 wild-bird is one of Nature's masterpieces. No- 

 thing else that I have ever met has given so 

 much pleasure, and proved so suggestive. 



Floating to other points, I came by chance 

 upon a favorite corner, where birds are always 

 found. The redstarts miniature orioles were 

 there in abundance. Being so small, when half 

 hidden in the leafy woods we may overlook 

 them, but they showed to excellent advantage 

 as seen in the waterscape. The land is too 

 often a sober background with which they blend 

 too closely; but every one of the redstarts, with 

 the glittering sheet of water behind it, was to-day 

 as brilliant as an oriole. 



A word, before it is forgotten, of an oriole in 

 the uplands. In full view of my front door, a 

 splendid full-plumaged male has been busy build- 

 6 81 



