WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



These, and the early migrants from the South, 

 find an abundant harvest preserved for them in 

 the meadows and wood-pastures, despite their 

 desolate appearance; yet, considering the minute- 

 ness of the grass-seeds upon which they mainly 

 feed, it is appalling to think what an enormous 

 number of bites a bird must take to make out a 

 dinner! But larger mouthfuls have been kept 

 for them. The bayberry, or false myrtle, gleams 

 with dense clusters of greenish- white berries; 

 the close, sombre foliage of the juniper, or savin, 

 is enlivened by innumerable purplish berries, upon 

 which all the birds nearly gorge themselves some- 

 times; black alders, "glowing with the brightest 

 scarlet fruit, and resembling at a distance pyramids 

 of flame/' are scattered about the lowlands, while 

 on higher ground the stately mountain-ash repeats 

 the scene, witches or no witches. 



Sometimes, after a considerable interval of warm 

 weather has melted away all traces of winter, and 

 we fondly think its forces have been permanently 

 beaten back, a heavy snow-storm will return, and 

 then a new scene presents itself to the rambler. 

 On the night before, perhaps, mock-moons have 

 been hung in the glowering sky, and next morn- 

 ing the sunlight will struggle down, silver-gray, 



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