6 Summer Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



stream, to reach a vast extent of plough-land, which 

 in two or three weeks they will be clearing of grubs 

 for their young. At present many are still at work 

 on the nests, and from meadow and plough-land 

 alike they come home slowly, bearing burdens of 

 all kinds, deposit them in the nests, and after a bit 

 of wholesome quarrelling are off again at a far 

 quicker speed. On a rainy day I have timed them 

 each way, and found the return journey always 

 much the slower of the two ; and well it may be, if 

 they will persist in carrying articles three feet long, 

 like yonder bird, whose efforts to convey himself 

 and a long curved stick through a high wind result 

 in a series of tacks and tumbles ludicrous to behold. 

 Why did he seize it at one end, instead of in the 

 middle ? 



There is one change, however, which has not 

 taken place in the allotments ; and, as this is the 

 solitary exception where everything is getting ready, 

 it seems to demand a word. The gate by which 

 every one has to enter — a gate on that account 

 much used and abused — is what we expressively call 

 here so very shackety that I should never suppose 

 it capable of living through another season, if I 

 had not already known it survive so many. It has 

 been so often patched up that one might doubt, as 

 the philosopher did of the sacred ship of Athens, 

 whether it is any longer the same gate it was five 



