THE DRIVE TO GREAT ROCK 209 



" Its bark stays like that even when we have 

 hail-storms and thunder and lightning," Tommy 

 called. 



" Do you really get hickory-nuts under it? " I 

 asked. 



" Of course," Philip answered, as Tommy 

 hadn't heard me. " Shagbark is another name for 

 Hickory-tree." Then he shouted: " See that red- 

 winged blackbird? " 



Surely there was a bird as black as jet, with 

 bright scarlet spots on his shoulders, flying across 

 the wet meadow we were passing. 



"Isn't he a beauty?" Mrs. Todd said, and 

 then Philip told us he had seen the red-winged 

 blackbird's nest, and that the eggs its mate laid 

 were pale blue with streaks on them of dark pur- 

 ple. " It's so late in the summer now though," 

 he said, " the little ones are pretty well grown, 

 and they like to stay with their parents around the 

 marshes and wet places." 



Philip then gave a " chee-e-e-e-e," that sounded 

 like the one, the bird had made when he saw us 

 coming and flew out over the marsh. 



" That's the brightest bit of color we shall see 

 to-day," Grandmother said. " My little girl here 

 has not a ribbon so gay." 



We were all glad when we came to a shady part 

 of the road that had been made through the woods. 

 Everything looked green here, and it was cool and 

 still after the burning sun. 



