loo ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



the grass, seeing that I had not answered to the call. 

 They thought perhaps that I had fallen out a long way 

 back, when the rain oppressed and drove us down and 

 when probably other members of the flock dropped ex- 

 hausted into the sea. They could not remain here in 

 this treeless exposed place, where the water is salt and 

 there is little food to find. I was looking for something 

 to eat at the roots of the grasses when this man appeared 

 and caused me to flutter up to my perch. Had this 

 strange weakness not been in me I should have rushed 

 away in the greatest terror on seeing him so near; for 

 we are exceedingly shy of man, fearing him even more 

 than hawk or hooded crow. But my weakness would 

 not allow me to fly, and now I have lost my fear, for 

 though he continues to watch me it is plain that he has 

 no intention of harming me." 



Having finished this little rambling talk to himself, 

 a review of his late experiences and present condition, 

 he once more attempted to fly, but settled again on a 

 stick not twenty yards away, and there he appeared dis- 

 posed to stay, his head well drawn in, the beak raised, 

 his bright eyes commanding a view of the wide sky 

 above. He would be able to see a fiock of passing red- 

 wings and call to them, and if the feeble sound reached 

 them it would perhaps bring them down to have speech 

 with and cheer him in his loneliness. He would also 

 be able to catch sight of a prowling crow coming his 

 way, for he feared the crow, knowing it for an enemy 

 of the weak and ailing, and would have time to hide 

 himself in the long grass. 



