2T|)c Summer JFlotoera. 159 



of the tree-tops was the. first precursor of dawn 

 the breeze which nearly always precedes awak- 

 ening day. At 3.20, before it was yet light, the 

 cat-bird was first of the songsters to salute the 

 morn. Five minutes afterward the wood-pewee 

 drowsily voiced the first two notes of his refrain 

 " whe-u whe, whee-u !" In just two minutes 

 more a robin began his matin song, followed by 

 the crowing of the cocks, which quickly ceased, 

 until at 3.40 the wood-pewee began whistling 

 merrily, immediately succeeded by the robins, 

 wood-thrushes, sparrows, and various song-birds, 

 all joining in the morning chorus. At four the 

 crescendo was at its height, when it gradually 

 diminished, soon leaving the sparrows in almost 

 undisputed possession. I found the. honey- 

 bees busy among the raspberry-blossoms a few 

 minutes after four, and the big bumble-bees 

 but a little later to begin their morning task. 

 Of all these early risers I for once was the 

 earliest. 



The hollyhock may be termed a great power 

 in July. Classed as a biennial, it might almost 

 come under the head of perennials, being as 

 permanent as many true perennials. It was a 

 favorite of Wordsworth and is also of Tennyson. 

 Tennyson's summer, 



. . . buried deep in hollyhocks, 



