264 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



In the trail are countless tiny toads so varied 

 in coloring as to attract my attention. Where 

 the earth is dark and mucky their backs are 

 black; but where it is leaf strewn they are rusty 

 brown, conforming almost perfectly to the col- 

 oring of their surroundings, a very interesting 

 illustration of Nature's scheme of protecting 

 even her humblest creatures. 



A familiar chorus of squeaks breaks upon the 

 ear and, halting to locate the source, I catch 

 sight of a Hairy Woodpecker as he goes gallop- 

 ing by with his bill full of grubs, hurrying to a 

 dead birch. His approach is signaled by a loud 

 '^perk, perk. " The response is a jargon of hungry 

 cries from his well-hidden brood, and as he 

 lights just beneath the hole several black and 

 white heads with open beaks appear, eagerly 

 reaching for their breakfasts. He tarries only 

 -long enough to feed the youngsters, then with a 

 farewell cry goes winging away for more food. 

 These Woodpeckers seem most devoted and 

 industrious parents. 



In the soft trail deep tracks are seen, sharp- 

 pointed and clean-cut, easily recognized as those 

 of a deer, a buck, evidently made since the rain 

 of early morning, and headed in the direction 

 I am traveling. Their freshness indicates that 

 he may be close by, and, advancing with great 

 caution, in a few minutes I am brought to a 

 sudden halt by the crashing of underbrush just 

 ahead and to the right of the trail, as a large 

 buck in his handsome coat of summer red goes 

 bounding away in uncertain flight. But he has 

 not located the source of danger, and as I slip 



