SWAMP WHITE-OAK BEND. 105 



at all times of the year an indication of their life-long 

 happiness ? As I write, I hear the song-sparrows, the 

 swamp-finches, and a cat-bird, all in full song ; the latter, 

 perhaps, singing more briefly than in June. I know 

 that there is much evidence to be brought forward that 

 both the song-sparrow and cat-bird are permanently 

 mated. 



A sudden, violent agitation of the surface of the wa- 

 ter caused me quickly to cease thinking of birds, and 

 regard the strange commotion in the creek. It was evi- 

 dently not due to a passing breeze, and peering into the 

 depths — very shallow just then — I saw countless hun- 

 dreds of young shad. It was a little late for these fish. 

 Usually they reach tide-water, coming from the upper 

 portions of the river, by August 1st ; but herein Nature's 

 methods have been somewhat disturbed of late, and 

 many thousands of artificially hatched shad are now set 

 at liberty at such times as the Fish Commission see fit. 

 These, perhaps, have just arrived from some hatchery, 

 and are later than their wild brethren. Be that as it may, 

 when once full-grown no difference is detected, and no 

 questions need be asked, when the baked shad comes to 

 the table. Still, it must be confessed that the interest 

 centring in these fish is much lessened since their arti- 

 ficial propagation. It places them among fishes where 

 chickens are among birds — very useful, but not sugges- 

 tive of untamed nature. 



The thousands of young shad that crowded about my 

 boat were not only very tame but very stupid ; at least 

 gave every evidence of being quite at the mercy of the 

 tides. I carefully lifted several from the water, and al- 



