S06 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



In the habits of the catbirds that have hitely nested 

 near the garden gate I have thus far noticed a uniformity 

 that leads me to believe that these birds whistle "good- 

 night " at 8 P.M. The yellow-breasted chats, however, re- 

 peat their "bon nuit" at even a later hour, and often 

 talk in their sleep the night through. Then again, the 

 pretty indigo-bird says "good-night" at sunset, but, for- 

 getting it, repeats it every hour from then until sunrise, 

 when it whistles " good-morning " as freshly as though it 

 had had an undisturbed night's rest. 



I liave wondered, at times, if this may not have been 

 one of Thoreau's night warblers. 



Lately, as I was about to enter the house, long after 

 dark, an unseen warbler, hidden in the pines, shrilly 

 asked, three times in quick succession, " Where-did-you- 

 get-it?" and then, " Where-did-yoa ?" but before I could 

 reply, he was silent as the sombre pines in which he sat 

 dreamily. 



June 30. — With what care and circumspection a mam- 

 mal walks, whether by night or day ! At all times, it 

 lias its wits about it, and considers not only the actuali- 

 ties but the possibilities of the moment and the place. 

 I was much impressed with this, as I had the opportu- 

 nity this evening of seeing a mink saunter. Judging 

 from the direction whence it came, it had been survey- 

 ing the poultry precincts, in anticipation of a midnight 

 raid ; at any rate, it had no pressing business now on 

 hand, and was leisurely sauntering towards its home. 

 I stepped aside in the nick of time, to watch, and no 

 stump was more noiseless than myself, I scarcely 



