270 
RURAL HOURS. 
two to the northward of our boat. A pair of them have been 
about the lake all summer ; they are said to be the large brown 
crane. We found one of their young this afternoon lying dead 
upon the bank of a brook, to which we gave the name of Crane 
Brook on*this occasion. It was a good-sized bird, and seemed to 
have been killed in a fight Avith some winged enemy, for it had 
not been shot. As for the boldness of callino- the brook after it, 
the pretty little stream had no namebefore ; wdiy not give it one ? 
Last summer a pair of eagles built their nest on one of the 
western hills, wdiich we ventured to call Eagle Hill, on the same 
principle. These noble birds are occasionally seen hovering over 
the valley, though not often. 
Measured an old grape-vine in the glen, near Crane Brook ; it 
proved to be seven inches in circumference. 
Friday, 2bth. — Observed the chimney swallows again this even- 
ing wheeling in a low flight over the roof, and through the foliage 
of the trees. It looked as though they were taking leave of us. 
They have deserted the chimneys, but we have not discovered 
where they pass the night. Perhaps in the hollow trees in the 
woods, for there are many such at hand. Mr. Wilson says, it fre- 
quently happens that these birds make their general rendezvous 
when they first come, and just before they leave, in the chimneys 
of the Court-House, if there be one in the place ; they seem to 
find out that such chimneys are little used. But we have never 
heard of the swallows honoring our own Court-House in this way. 
Saturday, 26th. — Again we observed the chimney swallow^s, 
flying over the house and through the trees, just as they have 
done these four or five evenings. Perhaps there is some particu- 
lar insect among the leaves which attracts them just now. 
