AX OCTOBER DIARY. 339 



Strong enougli to keep down the disgusting superfluity 

 of Englisli sparrows. Both the northern and southern 

 shrikes occur here, so between them some good may be 

 accomplished. 



An interesting occurrence of to-day was the freak of 

 a passing gust of wind, or whatever it may be called. 

 While standing at the edge of the woods, one tree, a very 

 tall tulip-tree, was quite rudely shaken by the wind, 

 sending a tremor through every leaf, and bending the 

 upper branches ; yet not a leaf on any other tree stirred. 

 The disturbance evidently came from above, and spent 

 its force in the one tree it struck in the descent. 



The hornets' nests that I have found, as yet, have all 

 been close to the ground; a sure sign of a cold winter, 

 it is said. This was a matter to refer to Miles Over- 

 field, and I hailed him this evening, as he passed through 

 the yard. 



" What of the hornets' nests, this fall. Miles ; are they 

 high or low ?" 



" All high up, and we'll have an open winter. Never 

 knew it to fail. Have seen a dozen, and all are on the 

 tops of the trees." 



" Well, I have seen just half a dozen, and every one 

 was low down ; one on the bottom rail of a fence," I 

 replied. 



"Ain't you a jokin'?" Miles asked, with a look of 

 astonishment. 



" Not at all," I replied. 



" Well, if that's so, there's goin' to be both kinds of 



