YOUNG SAPSUCKERS IN CAPTIVITY. 171 



qiiently from their dish while the train was at 

 rest. The next day tliey were given a room to 

 themselves. It was eight feet by five and was 

 lighted by a window looking into an upper entry. 

 Opposite and above the window was a large sky- 

 light through which sunlight streamed into their 

 room for several hours each day. They promptly 

 chose the curtain roller at the top of the window 

 as their favorite perch, and to this I attached 

 their syrup dish, which they recognized and 

 used at once. 



For several days they seemed perfectly well 

 and contented. They hammered the woodwork, 

 cut holes in the plastering until they reached the 

 laths, and drilled small holes in the floor. Ab- 

 solutely no insects gained access to their room. 

 On October 4, I state in my notes that they 

 never seemed more happy or more energetic. 

 They bathed freely at this time while I was in 

 their room, and seemed to enjoy the water 

 greatly. 



On October 11, I recorded the fact that Three 

 seemed dull and allowed me to catch her with- 

 out opposition. On the 12th, she was evidently 

 feeling far from well and stayed on the floor, 

 but Two and One were unusually cheerful. On 

 the 13th Three showed alarming sym2:>toms. As 

 early as 7 a.m. she had a convulsion, throwing 

 herself upon her back and struggling violently. 



