80 East and West 
both Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Bicknell that 
the wood thrush in the mountains is less 
domesticated than elsewhere, and that while 
heard, is less often seen. This is very true, 
and here the veery is the familiar one and 
takes the place of the wood thrush in this 
regard. It is the privilege of dwellers upon 
the slopes of Parnassus to hear the veery 
singing his chant at their doorsteps, con- 
secrating their dwelling as if some woodland 
god gave his benediction. The wild cry of the 
sapsucker emphasises to me my remoteness. 
from a wood-life, but the unworldly voice of 
the veery brings me nearer and makes me 
feel I am indeed the participant in some inner 
and higher life. 
One has here an intimate relation with 
trees, for we do not merely walk under them, 
we dwell among them; and while we do not 
actually live in them like wild men, the camps 
are often built around their trunks, so that 
they grow familiarly through the verandas 
and spread their branches over the house. 
This leafy and sylvan prospect inspires tree- 
thoughts in those who enjoy the companion- 
ship of trees. One does not know how 
companionabletrees are until he has thus lived 
among them and heard them day after day 
