Other Hints for the Beginner 



They engage us quite a Httle time — 

 for they will be taking their annual trip 

 northward by and by, and we and they 

 may not meet again for a while. 



However, the minutes are precious this 

 afternoon, and we must proceed. 



And now, because the rivulet happens 

 to spread a little farther on, where the 

 fence meets it, to somewhat of a morass, 

 too wide to cross, we are forced into a 

 short detour out through the open, until 

 we sight a rough foot-bridge of old rails, 

 laid from bank to bank, and head for it. 



But just here are other friends to make 

 us forget those left behind. And a fine pair 

 at that, whom, perhaps, you do not know; 

 to wit, tv/o plump Killdeers — slaking their 

 thirst amidst the tall brown winter grass. 



They seem not to notice our approach 

 until we are quite near, and then they 

 start to run away from us, going rapidly, 

 and keeping as close to the ground as 

 chipmunks, and all the while looking back 

 shrewdly — this being a characteristic per- 

 formance of the Vesper Sparrow also. 



[27] 



