70 THE RETURN OF THE NATIVES. 



easy stages they approach the stream, now hopping 

 down a twig that grows there for the purpose, now 

 nicely choosing a convenient stone to step upon, 

 and finally plunge into the water and revel in the 

 baptism. After a while they retire, uttering their 

 torche-ter-ehe, as though that note was the motive 

 power which governed their undulating flight, the 

 second syllable being emphasized as they begin to 

 rise on each succeeding wave, and growing fainter 

 with the downward inclination. I believe none of 

 our common birds " set up housekeeping " so late 

 in the season as they. Six weeks or more after 

 their arrival is spent in a round of pleasure, while 

 waiting for some of the earliest thistles to furnish 

 them down for upholstering their rooms. 



There are scores of dime museums in this grove 

 of hemlocks, to which on the mere asking the pro- 

 prietors will admit you. One comes upon curi- 

 osities so unexpectedly here ! Knock off the bark 

 of a stump, which the weather for years has been 

 loosening for you, and how amazed and confused 

 appear the inhabitants, that never want the light 

 and choose to thrive in this dank, unseemly place ! 

 How swiftly that myriapod scampers away on its 

 thirty legs, as though the sunlight caused it the 

 most severe pain, and hastens to seek its dark, 



