Birds by the Wayside 157 



but I believe this slaughter would not be so extensive under 

 normal conditions. Our visits to the rookery disturbing the 

 birds more than was usual, resulted in many a youngster be- 

 ing left unprotected. 



It is gratifying to know that these wonderful denizens of 

 the air are not likely tO' become extinct. Despite their thiev- 

 ing habits they proved to be a constant source of interest, and 

 their unique ways brought forth many (a laugh from even the 

 most undemonstrative member of our party. 



BIRDS BY THE WAYSIDE. 

 In Greece. 



by althea r. sherman. 



We reached Greece by the way of Constantinople. Had the 

 direction of the journey been reversed it would have followed 

 the course of historic Grecian colonization, and thus have bet- 

 ter pleased those who wish to take everything in its chrono- 

 logical order ; but when one has waited more than forty years 

 to visit Greece, it matters little by what route he arrives, so 

 long as a fond dream is realized. This for two score years 

 had been a subject for my dreams, both waking and sleeping, 

 with a difference : The dreams of sleep pictured the Acro- 

 polis of Athens in all its ancient splendor. Fulfillment found 

 it, as so often and accurately portrayed by pen and brush of 

 others, leaving little aside from personal sensations to be 

 gained by a visit to it. These proved a surprise for me. It 

 appears that one may know clearly how deeply time and "the 

 unspeakable Turk" have fixed the stamp of death and destruc- 

 tion on this crowning glory of ancient art, and yet in the pres- 

 ence of it be filled with indescribable sadness : such as one may 

 feel at the funeral of a young friend, beautiful, and trans- 

 cendentally noble in character. 



With a heart of mourning for the departed race, who 

 wrought so wondrously in art, literature, and national life, 

 one is drawn by a pathetic fascination to solitary wanderings 



