76 The Coming of the Birds 



and gravel transportation, and all that ; but 

 then there was the effeft of light and shade 

 upon the wonderful scene, and beauty like 

 this crowded out my taste for geology. The 

 sky was darkly blue, flecked with great 

 masses of snow white-cloud that drifted 

 between the sun and earth, casting shadows 

 that blackened the ice and brought winter 

 back again ; but a moment later a flood of 

 sunshine as promptly changed all, and the 

 bluebirds hinted of spring. Then, too, the 

 gulls and crows screamed above the roar and 

 crunching of the ice as it struck the scattered 

 trees, while in every sheltered nook was a 

 full complement of song-sparrows. Why any 

 one should bother about geology at such a 

 time I could not see ; but my companion 

 was intent upon problems of the ice age, and 

 continually remarked, " Now, if" or " Don't 

 you see ?" but I always cut him short with 

 " See that crow ?" or " Hear that sparrow ?" 

 No, he had not seen or heard the birds, and 

 neither had I his particular impressions. 

 At last the sunshine broke upon him, and 

 he laughed aloud when he saw the crows 

 trying to steal a ride on ice-rafts that con- 

 tinually upset. I was hopeful now, and he 



