IParaMse Circle 



fare better, in a way. White of Selborne 

 has not been surpassed as a gossiper about 

 nature ; his book, being on the level plane 

 of truth, yet saturated with a late-lingering 

 and beautiful ignorance, — note his child- 

 like faith in the hibernation of swallows, — 

 will always catch the attention of imagina- 

 tive readers. For what is more interesting 

 than simpHcity, sincerit}^, and freshness, 

 as they blend in White's letters ? Wilson 

 and Audubon make the same claim upon 

 us, but in a different way, with their writ- 

 ings. How we envy them their golden 

 age of opportunity! Think of American 

 bird-land in their day as compared with 

 what is left for us! Not long ago I was 

 passing over one of the regions described 

 by Wilson as affording him rich materials 

 for his work. I looked in vain for the 

 unbroken woods, the dense cane-brakes, 

 the blooming thickets through which he 

 made his way. Negro farm-hands were 

 plowing the hillsides and valley flats. A 

 few crows and grackles hovered along the 

 fence-rows; here and there a meadow-lark 

 twinkled in the sun ; that was all. 

 6i 



