32 Travels in a Tree- top 



mals as pi£lured, have demonstrated every- 

 thing, and so, I am afraid I must admit, noth- 

 ing. In the woodbine on the portico were 

 two nests, — a robin's and a chipping-spar- 

 row's. These were close to each other, and 

 once, when sitting in a rocking-chair, I swayed 

 the woodbine to and fro without disturbing 

 either bird. In the garden were a mocking- 

 bird, cat-bird, thistle-finch, song-sparrow, 

 brown thrush, yellow-breasted chat, and red- 

 eyed vireo. In the trees I saw a great-crested 

 fly-catcher, purple grakle, a redstart, spotted 

 warbler, and another I failed to identify. In 

 the field beyond the garden were red-winged 

 blackbirds and quail, and beyond, crows, fish- 

 hawks, and turkey-buzzards were in the air ; 

 and, as the day closed and the pleasant sights 

 were shut out, I heard the clear call of the 

 kill-deer plover as they passed overhead, heard 

 it until it mingled with my dreams. Provi- 

 dence Farm" is indeed well named, for the 

 birdy blessing of Providence rests upon it ; 

 but were men more given to considering the 

 ways and wants of wild life, we might find 

 such pleasant places on every hand. Farms 

 appear to be growing less farm-like. The 

 sweet simplicity of colonial days has been 



