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NATURE'S CALENDAR 



October i8 



says Thoreau, under date of October 3d, 

 "the plashing made apparently by shin- 

 ers; for they look and shine hke them, 

 leaping in schools on the surface. Many 

 lift themselves quite out for a foot or two, 

 but most rise only part way out, twenty 

 black points at once. There are several 

 schools indulging in this sport from time 

 to time as they swim slowly along. This 

 I ascertain by paddling out to them, 

 Perhaps they leap and dance in the water 

 just as gnats dance in the air at present. 

 I have seen them before in the fall.'' 



The streams and swamps and shores of 

 lake and ocean abound in half -grown 

 creatures of every sort that live in and 

 about the water. Whirligigs by the 

 thousand dimple the water of ponds and 

 swampy creeks, skaters dart hither and 

 thither over the glassy surface, and above 

 it hover those living gems, the dragon- 

 flies, rapidly thinning out, however, as the 

 cold nights begin to pinch their gauzy 

 wings. Along the seashore fishes and 

 crustaceans, mollusks, and all creatures 



October 19 



warmer depths. 



The cold-blooded reptiles feel the frosty 

 nights and retire to their winter-quarters, 

 now and then a snake or turtle being 

 lured forth by some Indian summer 

 warmth. Latest of them to retire, per- 

 haps, is Pickering's hyla, whose sharp 

 peep resounds through the autumn woods, 

 until really bad weather arrives, long 



