186 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



they feed as in the morning, and about dusk 

 they seek a safe night roost on bare shore or 

 open mud-bar. 



Aug. 21. In the morning I was treated to 

 something rather new in the line of vocal antics 

 and by a crow. I have heard crows with un- 

 usual vocal and linguistic powers, before, but 

 this fellow had everything that any other kins- 

 man ever possessed, and a dozen brand new 

 stunts of his own. From an elm top close by, 

 he delivered his strange oration. He cawed in 

 several keys; he wa-lunked; sang a really mu- 

 sical two-note tune; cussed and swore angrily; 

 growled like a dog; gutturaled in bass, and 

 piped high treble, in a very realistic mimicry of 

 human voices. Altogether it was the most re- 

 markable bird effort I ever heard. 



Aug. 23. The thrashers noted back at camp. 

 Two other migratory visitors appeared during 

 the day. These were some purple finches, in 

 their autumn coats, and also a pale-clad Ameri- 

 can redstart. 



Aug. 25. Up with the early dawn, and the 

 chilly morning world seemed to have taken on 

 its first real tint of autumn. The ducks were 

 shouting in fine fettle from the sloughs, and 



