156 IN THE MIDDLE COUNTRY. 



entered the grounds, he was supposed to be safe 

 from intrusion, except of others who had also 

 bought the right. The part easily accessible to 

 hotel and railroad station was the scene of con- 

 stant picnics, for which the State is famous, but 

 that portion which lay near my place of study 

 was usually left to the lonely kingfisher and 

 the cows. There the shy wood dwellers set up 

 their households, and many familiar upland 

 birds came with their fledglings ; that was the 

 land of promise for bird-lovers, and there one of 

 them decided to study. 



We began with the most virtuous resolves. 

 We would come at five o'clock in the morning ; 

 we would catch the birds at their breakfast. 

 We did ; it was a lovely morning after a heavy 

 rain, on which we set out to explore the ravine 

 for birds. The storm in passing had taken the 

 breeze with it, and not a twig had stirred since. 

 Every leaf and grass blade was loaded with rain- 

 drops. Walking in the grass was like wading 

 in a stream ; to touch a bush was to evoke a 

 shower. But though our shoes were wet through, 

 and our garments well sprinkled, before we 

 reached the barbed fence, over or under or 

 through or around which we must pass to our 

 goal, we would not be discouraged ; we went on. 



As to the fence, let me, in passing, give my 

 fellow drapery-bearers a hint. Carry a light 



