288 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



almost info the claws of a Blue-Tailed Darter. 

 And so, all day long, he flits from place to place, 

 all the time in deadly fear — ' which we haven't 

 any right to say," the Feather Man remarked, 

 *'but certainly all the time in deadly danger — 

 'till night comes and hangs its shadows in the 

 woods. 



'' 'Thus, from dawn till dark, he sits on a bough 

 and hears owls hoot and foxes patter about and 

 the raccoons clamber among the neighboring tree- 

 tops. What a day of watchfulness and terror, 

 what a night of fear ! ' " 



"Hard on the birds!" interjected Shan. 



*'It is somewhat overdraA^m, but it cannot be 

 denied that birds are beset on all sides by foes, 

 continually pressed by hunger, roaming continu- 

 ally by day and exposed to perils at night. Let a 

 good, clean-cut American boy once understand 

 that birds are in need of his help against bullies, 

 let him once get started on active work, and there'll 

 'be no lack of enthusiasm. 



' ' You '11 find that out for yourself, Shan. When, 

 next winter, amid all the bitter hardships brought 

 about by frost and snow, you see the birds pecking 

 berries from the shrubs and vines that you've 

 planted and you realize that your forethought has 



