118 FROM BLOMIDON TO SMOKY. 



and make him jump at each charge. On May 12, 

 during a three hours' \yalk, I saw over forty 

 si^ecies of birds, many of which I had unusual 

 and ample time to study through my glass, thanks 

 to their interest in the owl and consequent indif- 

 ference to me. It was not, however, until my 

 long vacation in Chocorua, beginning July 6, 

 that I really had time to ascertain the full value 

 as a magnet of my patient little bird companion. 

 The owls made the journey back to the moun- 

 tains with perfect composure. On being returned 

 to their piano-box cage they promptly sought 

 their respective corners, and showed in many 

 ways their recognition of old surroundings. This 

 power of memory was even more strongly shown 

 on their arrival in Cambridge in October, 1889, 

 when Fluffy flew across the cellar in search of 

 a favorite perch which had been removed, and the 

 absence of which caused him to end his flight in 

 an iofnominious tumble. 



On my arrival at Chocorua I began to keep 

 systematic account of all birds seen each day, 

 making careful allowance for birds seen twice in 

 the same day. Between July 6, and Oct. 14, I 

 recognized 9782 birds, representing 95 species. 

 On nearly half the days in this period Puffy was 

 my companion on my walks and rides. At first 

 it was not easy to induce him to leave his cage 

 and accompany me, but after a few lessons he 



