/IDs Minter (Barften 



thermometric faculty, knowing sometime 

 beforehand of a change in the pressure and 

 temperature of the atmosphere. We sit on 

 the veranda facing the Gulf, and can fore- 

 say a stiff blow from the southward by the 

 coming in of shore-birds off those dim and 

 treacherous islands far away yonder. In- 

 stinct assures the killdees and sandpipers of 

 a great dash which shall submerge all the 

 spits and marshes where they feed; so 

 here they come flickering to our headland 

 where the beach-line is sheltered. I see 

 them first just this side of the horizon, a 

 low, swinging and loitering rank of silvery 

 wings, winking like pale flames above the 

 blue water. Gradually they seem to rise, 

 growing more and more distinct, and a few 

 minutes later they arrive. Next day a 

 storm is sure to be on. The' curve of 

 islands has disappeared under a tremen- 

 dous splash of sea; gulls, pelicans, teal, 

 and other wild aquatic things have joined 

 the plovers ; our beach looks as if a winged 

 army had suddenly landed upon it. 



The house commanding our garden is 

 a rude structure into which not the least 

 II 



