io6 BIRD-LAND ECHOES. 



to a much greater degree, according to my obser- 

 vations, than do thunder-showers, however violent, 

 affect the nests and young later in the summer. 



My most vivid impressions of the wood-pewee 

 are of those that I have seen during still August 

 afternoons. August is the month of completion. 

 In no direction will you find a new activity. It is 

 the month of rest from the burden, if not from the 

 heat, of summer ; and when, after a show of activity 

 on my part in the forenoon, I rouse from my mid- 

 day nap and wander out to the three beeches, it is 

 chiefly to see my friend the wood-pewee. The 

 red-eyed vireo, tireless as the babbling brook, may 

 be singing in its half-sleepy way, as if preaching 

 under protest ; the tree-toad may be calling for the 

 rain that never comes just when it is needed; and 

 the cuckoo may glide through the tangled maze of 

 leafy boughs, a spirit rather than a bird ; all this may 

 come to pass ; but suddenly all sounds are hushed 

 and there is no evidence of life near by ; not a leaf 

 trembles, and our strained attention is centred on 

 the hope of some new break in the silence. It comes 

 at last, and we are glad to hear the far-off, dreamy 

 pe-a-wee, sounding as if some awakened bird was 

 yawning. The deliberation, the indifference, the 

 entire absence of interest in the effect produced, as 

 expressed by this bird's manner when it sings, are 

 remarkable. It is as though it was a task that had 

 to be performed, and the sooner it was over the 

 better. I have seen hundreds of men who re- 

 sembled wood-pewees in these respects. These pe- 



