CHICADEES. 
349 
full leaf, unlike most other trees, wliicli lose their foliao-e from 
above, downward. 
Monday, 230?. — Clear and cool. Light frost last night, the first 
we have had for a fortnight. Bright leaves here and there sail- 
ing in the light noon-day air, looking like large butterflies ; some 
of them, after being severed from the branch, will sail about a 
minute or two before they touch the earth. But tlie Avoods are 
growing dull. Willows and abele-trees, with a few garden plants 
and hedges, are all that is left of green among the deciduous fo- 
hage. The apple-trees are losing their leaves ; they seldom have 
much coloring, and often wither from green to russet without any 
gay tint at all. 
Saw a few musquitoes in the woods. We have very few of 
these annoying insects in our neighborhood. In the village we 
seldom see one ; in the woods they sometimes attack us. 
The summer birds are rapidly deserting the village ; the last 
few days have thinned their numbers very much. We have not 
seen one to-day. 
Tuesday, IMh. — Mild rain. The chicadees are gathering about 
the houses ao-ain ; these birds are resident with us throuofh the 
year, but we seldom see them in summer ; until the month of 
June they are often met fluttering about the groves near at hand, 
but from that time until the autumn is advancing, perhaps you 
will not see one. We have frequently watched for them in vain 
during the warm weather, not only near the village, but in the 
woods also, and we have never yet seen one at midsummer. This 
morning there was a large flock in the grounds, fluttering about 
among the half-naked branches. One is pleased to see the merry 
httle creatures again. 
