CHAPTER XIV. 

 THE TENTH AND ELEVENTH OF MAY. 



I AM in the forest on a beautiful morning, the 10th of 

 May; and never in the round year are the charms of 

 our woodland scenery greater than at this very hour. The 

 leaves are already well unfolded, for the spring is early; and 

 the many wild flowers, peculiar to the time of year in this 

 locality, are in full bloom. Liverworts, spring-beauties and 

 marsh-marigolds are past their prime, indeed; but the 

 cresses, the toothworts, the fumitories, the addertongues, 

 the violets, and above all the trillium, are now in the very 

 height of their glory; while the mitreworts and the many 

 varieties of Solomon's-seal are just beginning to display 

 their delicate beauties. The whole woods is one immense 

 flower-garden. Oh, the fragrance of tnis delightful morn- 

 ing air! Involuntarily one takes long, deep breaths, as if 

 the very act of respiration were a luxury. 



THE WOOD THRUSH. 



But most delightful of all, as the sun leaps above the 

 horizon, is the mingled chorus of the birds. The Wood 

 Thrush (Turdus mustelinus) arrived some time during the 

 night, and is giving us his first song. To me it is an event 

 of the season. Nothing in all our bird melody equals it! 

 Such is its sweetness and copious variety that I shall not 

 attempt to render it in syllables. It must suffice to say that 



