THE ROBINS GO A-TRAVELLING 



a paralyzing effect on both birds, but there 

 is a possible explanation of this which I 

 must not fail to mention. 



During this same summer at the Cats- 

 kills we were visited by one of the most 

 terrible storms I have ever known. A 

 tree at a few feet from the house was cleft 

 from top to bottom by lightning, and the 

 bark, attached to the tree only by one end, 

 was left hanging in slender strips several 

 feet in length. The crash was terrible, and 

 the birds, as well as the human beings, felt 

 the shock keenly. With one accord the lit- 

 tle creatures ran under the sofa, and from 

 this vantage-point they occasionally peeped 

 out as if to demand an explanation of the 

 disturbance. 



While the panic was still at its height, a 

 venturesome member of the party rushed 

 out and secured a sample strip of the bark, 

 which he brought to the room where we 



