in quick measure. I loved to go to the shore to see the great flocks of birds that resorted there; they varied in size from what we named sandhill cranes, but their proper name is Great Blue Heron, to little sandpipers. There were great gulls with a sad call; golden plover, the swiftest game bird we had; the piping plover had a sweet mourn- ful call; the kingfisher was a beautiful bird and a great fisher, but very slovenly about its nest. It made a noise like a watchman’s rattle. There were little snipes that gave a warning call, if they saw any- thing approaching them, and made a great ado when they started to fly. We fancied what they said. One would start up with what sound- ed like, "here comes John Lot”; then others would chime in, "No it isn’t” and the other would reply, “Yes it is”; then when a stone was flung at them they would start off with a loud chatter, “Didn’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you?” The different species kept by themselves, and kept up an almost constant conversation, which they seemed to understand. The herons were slow flying birds. We often tried to surprise them but they had keen eyes and long necks and kept a sharp watch for enemies. They had long legs and would wade out in the water and stand still and wait for the fish to pass near them when they would spear them with their long sharp bills. Eels were hard to hold and would sometimes get away but the heron would catch them again and again until they were subdued. It was interesting to watch them fishing, and laughable to see them try to start with too heavy a load; when fishing was good they would fill themselves so full that it was with much effort they could start to fly; if surprised when loaded too heavily they would disgorge, or throw up part of their load, in order to get away quickly. They made their nests in the trees in the woods, and when a large number of them nested near together they made a great clattering noise. It would require a whole book to describe all the birds we had visit us. We wondered how they found their way over hundreds and even thousands of miles of trackless space, for even the humming bird came a long distance. They had in their heads or somewhere within them, a compass, that never failed them. They may have navigated by the stars at night and landmarks by day, as mariners did before the compass was invented. They had within them an engine of wonderful power and endurance; man never

37