UNDER SHADOW OF WACHUSETT 85 



into solid rock. I backed down with a 

 lantern between its dripping walls. My 

 voice echoed strangely. The bottom of 

 the cave was covered with water a foot 

 deep. As the lantern would not pene- 

 trate the gloom I crawled back into day- 

 light. I am not envious of cave-dwelling 

 animals. A wood thrush sang in the 

 distance and companies of black-throated 

 green warblers piped their wheezy songs 

 above in the giant pines. 



The pond with its changing cloud 

 effects and luxuriant foliage was the most 

 enticing spot, and I sauntered along a 

 winding path, over brook and between 

 fruit-laden shad bushes, a-birding. A 

 family of black and white creepers were in 

 evidence and called incessantly ; a female 

 redstart darted about, an oven bird and a 

 scarlet tanager made music, while a chest- 

 nut-sided or a Nashville warbler would 

 now and then join in the chorus. Two 

 marsh hawks chased each other in the 

 sultry sky. A flicker shouted in the dis- 

 tance and a crow cast his flapping shadow 

 on the mirrored surface of the pond- 

 Far up on the hillside a blue jay cried. 

 On the waving birches a gaudy redwing 



