the body .and graceful darting of the head slower than that of spring, when it seems 



in various directions," while they seek for to be in haste to begin the work of nest- 



their food. ing. 



The Greater Yellow-legs exhibits great Audubon has said : "When in Labra- 



anxiety and sympathy for a wounded dor, I found these birds breeding, two or 



companion and for a time seems to forget three pairs together, in the delightful 



its own danger. quiet valleys bounded by rugged hills of 



The range of the Greater Yellow-legs considerable height, and watered by lim- 

 is an extensive one which includes Amer- pid brooks. These valleys exhibit, in 

 ica in general. It breeds from Northern June and July, the richest verdure, lux- 

 Illinois and Iowa northward, and uriant grasses of various species growing 

 migrates south in the fall as far as Pata- here and there in separate beds many 

 gonia, some wintering in the Gulf states, yards in extent, while the intervening 

 In its migrations, it seldom remains spaces, which are comparatively bare, are 

 more than a day or two at any one sta- of that boggy nature so congenial to the 

 tion, though the fall passage is somewhat habits of this species." 



EARLY AUTUMN DAYS. 



When the summer days are over, 



And the bees desert the clover, 

 When with golden-rod and aster vale and upland are a-bloom, 



Then, with Nature, 'tis a pleasure, 



To improve our humble leisure, 

 In her sylvan haunts to linger to imbibe some late perfume, — 



To behold some treasure glisten, 



And in peaceful thought to listen 

 To the sad prophetic voices of the season in decline ; 



For one feels the good of living 



In accordance with His giving, 

 While observing Nature's wisdom flow from Nature's God divine. 



Though have perished all the flowers 



That kept fragrant June's rich bowers, 

 Yet the landscape is made brighter by the early autumn rain ; 



While the days grow fresh and clearer, 



As the season's end draws nearer, 

 And the charm seems more consistent with the body and the brain. 



With their mellow fruit resplendent 



Are the orchards. The sun, pendent, — 

 Not unlike a golden jewel, — fills a setting very blue ; 



While a dreamy mist is trailing 



Lake and river, — softly veiling, — 

 At the meeting of their waters, where the woodland shades the view. 



Wondrous bright are vale and fountain, 



Wondrous clear the distant mountain, 

 Ever gently with each other earth and heaven seem to vie ; 



Save where flocks of duck or plover, 



Startled by the gunner, hover 

 Like gray clouds above the marshes and bedim the lower sky. 



