BIRDS IN A FOG 55 



this continued, and in the morning the fog 

 was lighter, but a steady rain was fall- 

 ing. Now, I thought, is my time to see the 

 stranger who has so interested me ; for in a 

 steady rain birds find it somewhat less com- 

 fortable on the tree-tops, and incline to get 

 under the leafy roofs for shelter as well as 

 for food. Duly encumbered by wraps and 

 protectors that man has devised as shields 

 from the weather, I hastened to a bit of the 

 woods where for a few rods it was level and 

 penetrable, and where I had heard the luring 

 voice. Here, with some difficulty, I found a 

 spot firm enough to support the legs of my 

 chair, and settled myself to wait. 



More conspicuous than ever were the con- 

 trasted tree-trunks, as the dampness turned 

 the spruces black, and brought out the 

 beauty of the decorative lichens in every 

 shade of green, from almost white to dead 

 black, with here and there bits of pink and 

 drab, all standing up, living and beautiful as 

 always in a soaking rain. Even the rocks 

 were glorified by great patches of these curi- 

 ous plants, which show freshness and life 

 only when wet, the tender blue-green leaves, 



