AT PEEP OF DAY 



of the low trees among which they were flitting. 

 They were like scarlet flowers in motion. I have 

 sometimes seen in a geranium or a gladiolus some- 

 thing of the wonderful tint of this glowing little 

 body. In the sunlight it is positively dazzling. 



I followed the brilliant company from one 

 point to another, until at last they flew over to 

 the maples of my table d'hote. Ah, what distin- 

 guished guests I had that day ! A maid who has 

 recently come to us from the Emerald Isle and 

 whose mind and heart are filled with tender 

 memories of thrushes and linnets, " Jenny 

 Wrens " and " real redbreasts," skylarks and 

 " stone crackers," and all the familiar feathered 

 folk of the old country, was within call when 

 the tanagers alighted in the table d'hote trees. 

 I summoned her and pointed out the glowing 

 beauties. First awed silence, then low, rapturous 

 exclamations! Never, never before had she seen 

 such a wonderful sight. No old-world bird 

 could compare with these glorious American 

 strangers. We gazed and gazed until they left 

 us to return to this quiet forest-nook, and after 

 a few days they were no more to be seen in any 

 part of the grove. 



Perhaps a little less than a week ago, as I sat 



