ioo ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



us down and when probably other members of the 

 flock dropped exhausted into the sea. They could 

 not remain here in this treeless exposed place, where 

 the water is salt and there is little food to find. I was 

 looking for something to eat at the roots of the 

 grasses when this man appeared and caused me to 

 flutter up to my perch. Had this strange weakness 

 not been in me I should have rushed away in the 

 greatest terror on seeing him so near; for we are 

 exceedingly shy of man, fearing him even more than 

 hawk or hooded crow. But my weakness would not 

 allow me to fly, and now I have lost my fear, for 

 though he continues to watch me it is plain that he 

 has no intention of harming me." 



Having finished this little rambling talk to himself, 

 a review of his late experiences and present condition, 

 he once more attempted to fly, but settled again on a 

 stick not twenty yards away, and there he appeared 

 disposed to stay, his head well drawn in, the beak 

 raised, his bright eyes commanding a view of the wide 

 sky above. He would be able to see a flock of passing 

 redwings and call to them, and if the feeble sound 

 reached them it would perhaps bring them down to 

 have speech with and cheer him in his loneliness. 

 He would also be able to catch sight of a prowling 

 crow coming his way; for he feared the crow, knowing 

 it for an enemy of the weak and ailing, and would 

 have time to hide himself in the long grass. 



There I left him, going away along the shore, but 

 an hour or two later I returned to the same spot, 

 coming over the wide sands, and lo ! where I had left 



