LEAVE-TAKING OF THE BIRDS. 
321 
themselves and then fly away at will. Probably they take the 
house for a respectable sort of cave, where they mean to shelter 
themselves from the frosty air a while ; but as they never come until 
toward the last of the season, it looks very much as if they wished 
to say good-bye, and inquire if we have any messages for our 
friends in Carolma. 
A handsome Antiopa butterfly, brown and buff, also came 
fluttering about a window of the second stoiy several times in 
the course of the morning, coming and going, as if anxious to find 
its w'ay in. At last we opened the window, but it was frightened 
by the noise, and fluttered away. These large and handsome 
butterflies are longer-lived than many of their companions ; they 
outhve the winter, by clinging to the rafters of barns and out- 
buildings, or concealmg themselves in sheltered crertces of walls, 
where they remain in a torpid state until the mild weather in 
spring, when they come out again, and may occasionally be seen 
flitting about among the leafless and flowerless shrubs of March 
and April. 
Tuesday, \0th. — Mild. Showery morning, bright afternoon. 
Pleasant walk on the lake-road. The pines are clear green again, 
having cast their rusty leaves. A few cones also are dropping, 
but many hang on the trees through the winter. 
A feAV years since, those who followed this road, along the lake 
shore, frequently met an old man, coming and going in this direc- 
tion, Avhose venerable appearance would probably haA’e attracted 
a stranger’s attention. His head was white with the honors of 
fourscore and upward, yet his tall, slender figure Avas erect 
and active, shoAving few marks of age ; and his face was remark- 
able for a kindly, beneA’olent expression, a bright, healthy eye, and 
14 * 
