90 WHIMSICAL WAYS IN BIRD-LAND. 



season, and then I was drawn by his calls to an- 

 other old tangle of blackberry bramble at the 

 upper edge of the orchard. " Quoik ! " he began, 

 very low, and then quickly added, "Whe-up! 

 ch'k ! ch'k ! toot ! toot ! too ! t-t-t-t-t ! " conclud- 

 ing with a very good imitation of a watchman's 

 rattle. I hastened toward the spot, and was 

 again treated to that most absurd wing perform- 

 ance, followed by an exhibition of himself in 

 plain sight, and then a circling around my head, 

 till, tired of pranks or satisfied with his survey, 

 he dropped out of sight in the bushes. 



Here, I said to myself, is a chat of an unfa- 

 miliar sort ; just as eccentric as any of his race, 

 and not at all averse to being seen ; wary, but 

 not shy ; and at once I was eager to know him, 

 for the great and undjdng charm of bird study 

 lies in the individuality of these lovely fellow- 

 creatures, and the study of each one is the study 

 of a unique personality, with characteristics, 

 habits, and a song belonging exclusively to it- 

 self. Not even in externals are birds counter- 

 parts of one another. Close acquaintance with 

 one differentiates him decidedly from all his 

 fellows ; should his plumage resemble that of 

 his brethren, — which it rarely does, — his man- 

 ners, expressions, attitudes, and specific "ways" 

 are peculiarly his own. 



The blackberry patch pointed out by the chat 



