WOOD NOTES AND NEST HUNTING. 1 37 



a thick cedar, where probably her mate was wait- 

 ing to praise her, and was seen no more. Then I 

 approached reverently, and gazed with admiration 

 oxi this work which the sweet spirit of maternity 

 had prompted. 



The retiring sun darkens these aisles, and the 

 heavier air seems to hold the fragrance of the 

 bush grasses and foliage nearer the earth. Picking 

 my way through the viburnums, where I find three 

 species, the sheepberry, dentatum, and withrod, all 

 now in full bloom, I discover the cause of this 

 scolding of two swamp sparrows flitting through 

 the bushes at my approach. Ah ! here is the little 

 fellow, not two weeks from the egg, perched on a 

 twig, not daring to move upon his uncertain legs 

 or weaker wings. How stupidly he stares at 

 everything around him ; then drawing in his head 

 and half-closing his eyes, bides his time of strength 

 and song. 



The purple finch has instituted a vesper service 

 on yonder branch ; a Maryland yellow-throat peers 

 at me through the foliage, but is silent, and like a 

 sexton seems to admonish me to move in reverence 

 during the holy hour. Near at hand, in the trees, 

 the robins were talking to one another like chick- 

 ens going to roost. Softer bird-whisperings were 



