172 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



oaks and elms, the latter two being in their prim- 

 eval best, along the water-front. The elm clump 

 that sheltered the tepee is a detached grove stand- 

 ing off a short distance from the main woods. 

 Back of the woods and encircling the entire 

 stretch lies a chain of sloughs, making these 

 woods an isolated spot. In former days it must 

 have been a favorite with the redman — as evi- 

 denced by his old potterj^ flint arrow-heads, and 

 buffalo-bones, etc, about the place — during 

 present summer days it is the retreat of the 

 campers who have found and love the spot. 



Aug. 1. Went down to the point of woods, 

 jutting out into the pasture, to make my first 

 call upon some old friends, — the Arkansas king- 

 birds, — but though I searched the oaks well, not 

 a trace of the pair could I find. For the pre- 

 vious three years, at least, this pair had returned 

 to the same spot, though so far beyond the ordi- 

 nary range of their kind — the Arkansas being a 

 Southern kingbird, — but now their place was 

 vacant. 



Exactly a year ago when I came down to find 

 them, I had not far to seek. There was a noise of 

 battle in the oaks, the shrill voice of a kingbird, 

 and the intermittent scream of a red-tailed hawk. 



