SUMMER DA YS. 79 



the crash of bird melody peals forth from the woods and 

 groves, and the vast evening hymn of joy is taken up by 

 songster after songster as night steals softly over all. 

 How refreshing both for mind and body is a stroll 

 through Nature's matchless temple in the cool of a 

 summer's evening, far away from the whirl and turmoil 

 of hot, dusty cities, and the strife and struggle of men. 

 Who would not exchange the pavements of cities for the 

 cool springing turf of the country, and the noise of men 

 for such sylvan peace ? Throughout the long summer 

 evenings birds become unusually active, and even during 

 the few short hours of darkness we can scarcely call 

 them night many little feathered creatures wander 

 abroad to instruct and interest us. 



He who would anticipate the birds on a summer's 

 morning, will have to be out of doors at an early hour 

 indeed. The sights and sounds that greet him will be 

 an ample recompense for going out so early. The Rooks 

 proclaim the dawn from their roosting-places in the high 

 elm trees, and the Thrushes and Robins soon follow. 

 The Cuckoo is another early riser, so too is the Skylark. 

 Bird-music heralds the coming of day as it will usher 

 the close. The awakening of birds is a gladsome sight 

 indeed, and a fitting commencement for these bright 

 happy days of summer. Now it is the Song Thrush 

 piping forth his first few notes, each one repeated several 

 times in quick succession ; then it is the Robin chanting 



