ey, is
not a resident of the peninsula. Dr. Purnell's first experiment with the
Pinnated Grouse (_Cupidonia cupido_) has encouraged others to bring the
ruffled grouse to the eastern shore of Maryland. That unapproachable
songster of the south, the American Mocking-bird (_Mimus polyglottus_),
is becoming scarce in this region, from the inroads made by
bird-catchers who ship the young to northern cities. This delightful
chorister is only an accidental visitor in the New England states.
Indeed, as far south as Ocean County, New Jersey, I saw but one of these
birds, in a residence of nine years on my cranberry plantations; though
I have heard that their nests are occasionally found about Cape May, at
the extreme southern end of New Jersey.

My time being limited, I could enjoy the doctor's hospitality for but
one night. The next morning the whole family, with tenants both black
and white, assisted me to embark. By dusk I had crossed the division
line of two states, and had entered Virginia near the head of
Chincoteague Island, a locality of peculiar interest to the student of
American character. The ebb-tide had left but little water around the
rough pier abreast of the town, and heaps of oyster-shells rose from the
mud flats and threatened the safety of my canoe. I looked up through the
darkness to the light pier-head above me, and called for assistance. Two
men leaned over to inquire, "What's the row now, stranger?" To which I
replied, "I wish to land a light boat on your pier; and as it is made of
paper, it should be carefully handled." For a moment the oystermen
observed a silence, and then, without one word of explanation,
disappeared. I heard their heavy boots tramping up the quay towards the
tavern. Soon a low murmur arose on the night air, then hoarse shouts,
and there came thundering down the wharf an army of men and boys. "Pass
her up, stranger!" they cried. "Here, give us your bow and starn
painters, and jest step overboard yourself, and we'll hist her up." Some
of the motley crew caught me by the shoulders, others "histed away," and
the canoe and its captain were laid roughly upon the ground.

There was a rush to _feel_ of the paper shell. Many were convinced
that there was no humbug about it; so, with a great shout, some of the
men tossed it upon their shoulders, while the rest seized upon the
miscellaneous cargo, and a rush was made for the hotel, leaving me to
follow at discretion and alone. The procession b