full leaf, unlike most other trees, which lose their foliage from above, downward.
Monday, 23d.—Clear and cool. Light frost last night, the first we have had for a fortnight. Bright leaves here and there sailing 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 the woods are growing dull. Willows and abele-trees, with a few garden plants and hedges, are all that is left of green among the deciduous foliage. 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, 24th.—Mild rain. The chicadees are gathering about the houses again; these birds are resident with us through 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 little creatures again.
