JANUARY. 23 



terrible as the definition implies. Everywhere it was 

 cold, open, and exposed, but never cheerless and solitary. 

 Scarcely had I crossed the beach-mark than twittering 

 tree-sparrows came floating through the air, each breaking 

 the silence as it reached the earth, as though bearing a 

 dainty sleigh-bell on its breast. 



Even the frozen river was not bleak. It proved to be 

 a favorite hunting-ground of the omnipresent crow, and, 

 however funereal in appearance itself, no bird more efEectu- 

 ally dispels the gloom. As seen against the dazzling white- 

 ness of the snow-dusted ice, the crows were very prominent 

 objects, and I felt that I had companions while walking 

 over the river, now a new pasture for me, if not for them. 



Judging from their constant clamor — for each had un- 

 restricted freedom of speech — these crows were happy as 

 if at the end of a feast ; but it is not always so, as I have 

 known the ice to prove very tantalizing, if I mistook not 

 one poor bird's feelings upon a certain occasion. Lately 

 I chanced upon a solitary crow, without being seen by it. 

 I was passing at the time through a little wood, walking 

 upon the frozen creek that divided it. The ice was clear 

 as crystal and every object on the bed of the stream was 

 plainly to be seen. The crow before me was held by some 

 strong influence to a particular spot. At times it gazed 

 solemnly upon or through the ice; then walked round 

 and round, as though looking for some opening therein ; 

 then, returning to the fascinating spot, again looked stead- 

 fastly down. 



I was quickly curious to know what the attraction 

 might be, and approached the troubled bird. It was loath 

 to leave, and flew reluctantly toward the meadows, cawing 

 petulantly as it left the wood. I found beneath the ice, 

 where the crow had lingered, the skinned body of a musk- 

 rat, lodged in so appropriate a spot as a bed of mussels. 

 A tempting feast, this, for the hungry crow, which was 



