124 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



his favorite spot high in a poplar, and gave just 

 a glimpse of himself as he darted down upon 

 some passing insect prey; next came a cowbird 

 pair — or rather male and female, for these 

 chaps are exceedingly loose in their ways and 

 do not pair as do most other birds — and the 

 proud male in his spring coat of steel-blue 

 pouched his chest, thrust his beak skywards, 

 and sidled to his tune of " Liquidilleee " — all of 

 which seemed extremely silly, but doubtless in 

 the eye of the little brown female was quite 

 gratifying. Soon two more visitors gave it out 

 that they had arrived, though neither of them 

 came into the poplars nor allowed a glimpse of 

 himself. A white-rumped shrike, raspy and 

 petulent of voice, ground out his call from 

 somewhere on the outskirts of the wood, and as 

 if in answer to him, a grasshopper sparrow 

 called his insect-like thrill — a fair promise of 

 sleepy summer days, soon to follow. 



" May 14. Sunday. Lazed in camp all 

 day. " So says the note-book. And what bet- 

 ter way to spend the day than thus? — to read 

 from the wonderful book of the out-of-doors; 

 to sit for a few hours with eye and ear alert, and 

 heart atune to the vibrant music of the world of 



