CEBTAIX PHASES OE BIRD-LIFE. 347 



pasture-fields, overturn dry chips of cow-dung, in search of crickets ; 

 but such young birds will naturally follow their parents thither, and 

 this is just the case, for the larger proportion of birds killed in Octo- 

 ber, in such localities, are the young of the preceding summer. 



In conclusion, with reference to young birds, I believe they leave 

 their nests totally ignorant, and naturally imitate their parents. What 

 this imitation secures to them, in the way of knowledge, they perfect 

 by experience ; and this explains the variation in the habits of the 

 same birds, so noticeable when studied in localities widely distant and 

 greatly differing in character. 



Let us turn our attention now to adult birds ; and, with reference 

 to them, I would refer particularly to two phases of their life-habits 

 that have interested me exceedingly. The first of these points is the 

 ingenuity so frequently displayed in procuring food. By the exercise 

 of ingenuity, I mean instances of the attacking bird (in cases of birds 

 of prey) being at first outwitted by the pursued, and, after repeated 

 efforts availing nothing, ceasing its aggressive movements ; then con- 

 sidering the causes of failure, planning a new method of action, and, 

 having correctly judged the difficulties, finally succeeding. This, at 

 least, is the manner in which I interpret the following instance : 



While out watching our winter birds, January 22d of this year, I 

 was caught in quite a hard shower, and sought shelter under a group 

 of three large, dense cedars. Like myself, driven in from the adjoin- 

 ing meadows by the increasing rain, came a dozen or more sparrows, 

 which, settling among the branches, commenced dressing their feath- 

 ers and twittering cheerily. In a few moments after came, with a 

 rush and loud chirp, a gay cardinal. If the sparrows did not ac- 

 knowledge his presence with a low bow, each, at any rate, took a 

 lower branch, leaving him on his elevated perch like a monarch on 

 his throne. But he was fated to be molested, for, scarcely had he 

 become fairly settled, and his feathers smoothed, when a sparrow- 

 hawk rushed through the tree, with a zigzag movement, endeavoring 

 to seize him or one of his attendant sparrows. Failing in this, the 

 hawk hovered about a few moments, giving the scattered birds time 

 to return, which they quickly did, when, with a similar rush, he again 

 scattered them. One little snow-bird was so thoroughly frightened 

 that it lit upon my shoulder, as though seeking safety under the brim 

 of my hat. The third effort of the hawk failing, he came back imme- 

 diately and seated himself at a little distance from the top of the tree, 

 and close to the main stem. I remained nearly motionless, but with 

 upturned face, and could plainly see the bird, although fortunately I 

 escaped notice. One thing in particular attracted my notice : the 

 bird was very much exhausted, " out of breath," as we should say of 

 ourselves, and, with his beak open, he panted violently. This satisfied 

 me that the efforts to capture prey are not accomplished with the ease 

 sometimes supposed. As the rain was increasing, and the wind con- 



