Native Brooks. 81 



A number of skirmishes occurred along Richmond or 

 Stony brook, in the years of the Revolution, particularly 

 on the day of the fight at St. Andrew's Church. But it is 

 more pleasing to think of it in the times of peace, to see the 

 water snakes glide in so smoothly, the turtles scuttle with 

 much haste and the wayward frogs jump recklessly off the 

 bank frightening the black-nosed dace below. When these 

 little fish are disturbed, they will scatter in all directions, 

 coming together shortly, if they imagine the danger is 

 past. At other times they will sink to the deepest places 

 in the stream, and remain on the sand or pebbles, not 

 moving a fin, and as their backs are sand colored, they are 

 not easily seen from above. Occasionally when there is 

 nothing to fear, one will be seen lying motionless for a long 

 time between two pebbles, and thus can they rest and 

 sleep when they desire. 



There are numbers of plane-wood trees on the banks of 

 this stream, and a profusion of wild flowers and a patch ol 

 periwinkle on the steep hill-side to the west. A wooded 

 slope, with a brook nearby, always proves attractive to the 

 birds, and this one is a great favorite with them. Cat- 

 birds congregate about the smilax patches and sing their 

 varied songs, which are always worth listening to, but it is 

 in May, just before nest building commences, when the 

 males talk to their drab-colored mates in coaxing, faint 

 undertones, that they are most interesting, and those who 

 have not listened to this bright-eyed bird at such a time, 

 only know a small portion of his vocabulary. 



There has been much discussion of late as to the real 

 source of the Mississippi, and it would turn an explorer's 



