XII 

 SUMMER BIRDS 



A SENSE of stillness and peacefulness 

 has stolen over the outdoor world, 

 the foliage has attained its full luxurious- 

 ness, the lighter greens of the spring have 

 turned darker and the summer sun shines 

 down unmercifully upon man and bird. 



We confine our rambles to the deep 

 woods or along the beaches where we are 

 fanned by ocean breezes. It is the season 

 of recuperation for the birds after their 

 housekeeping hardships and in view of 

 their long migration journey, to begin be- 

 fore we are aware of it. 



We rarely hear the wild wood ring with 

 bird voices as we did a month or two ago, 

 and if we do not tramp, tramp, tramp, — 

 which beneath an August sun we never 

 feel the least like doing, — our list of sum- 

 mer birds remains small ; we must seek 

 them in the shady nooks and corners if 

 we wish to keep up old friendships. 



