All Day Afloat. 127 



gleesome throats was mingled : the tireless red- 

 eye's half-impatient cry, the fretting of the over- 

 anxious crows, the boasting oriole's exultant call, 

 the sad song of the plaintive thrush, the ceaseless 

 chatter of the restless wren, here met upon the 

 waters. 



A moment here and the silence was oppressive ; 

 turning but a step and all the world was merry. 

 There seems to be little doubt but that birds and 

 blossoms have tastes in common. Of all the 

 features of a bright May morning, no one is more 

 in touch with the conditions than the north-bound 

 warblers. It may be that, if they tarried long, we 

 would count them tiresome, but never at such a 

 time as this will one weary of watching such 

 marvels of brilliant bird-life. There are three to 

 be found in this river valley that match well with 

 the bright plumage of the birds of the tropics, — 

 the hooded, the spotted, and Blackburnian war- 

 blers. To-day I had the spotted only to keep me 

 company, and had they chosen to remain so long, 

 I would willingly still be sitting in my boat. 

 Never a pessimistic thought clouds their joy, and 

 none overshadows the on-looker at such a time 



