182 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



out reluctance or demur, but on the whole with a 

 deprecatory air, appearing ashamed of being used 

 for the purpose. Disappearing in the long grass, 

 in a few moments he was back with a young gull, 

 a clapper-rail, or some other downy chick. When 

 I took the bird from him, it was not only un- 

 harmed and unruffled, but the delicate plumage 

 was seldom even moistened by contact with the 

 dog's mouth. If I did not care for a specimen, I 

 would return it to him, tell him to take it back, 

 leave it where he found it, and bring me another. 

 Off he would go, and presently return with a dif- 

 ferent bird. I have seen dogs that would fetch, 

 but I have seen but one or two dogs that would 

 take things away and return them to the spot 

 whence they had been brought. In the house, 

 Grouse would not only bring me my slippers, but 

 would take away my shoes and put them as care- 

 fully in the closet as I could myself. He knew 

 just where they belonged, and in what position 

 they should stand. I fancy he was as solicitous 

 in returning the unharmed fledglings to the place 

 where he found them. 



Cobb's Island has been largely decreased in 

 area by some of the more violent storms of the 

 last ten or fifteen years, and is now comparatively 

 small, whereas formerly it was some three miles 

 long. On the bay side vast marshes extended 

 over hundreds of acres. As a breeding ground 



