MORE WINTER EXPLOITS. 35 



himself more easily, and continued making his 

 toilet. 



However, hunt as I would, I could not find 

 my red-breasted woodpecker, or zebra bird. So 

 I started homeward — for my time was limited — 

 feeling somewhat disappointed. Passing by the 

 place where I had expected, less than half an 

 hour before, to find him, but had not been able 

 to see a single bird, I suddenly heard a sharp 

 cliii'p. Turning back, I soon espied a company 

 of birds of various species, among them my 

 zebra bird, calling, ^' Chack ! chack ! ' in his 

 harsh but cordial tones. Where had those 

 birds been when I had passed that spot before ? 

 That is a question I can not answer with cer- 

 tainty. Perhaps they were j)icnicking in some 

 other part of the woods, and had returned dur- 

 ing my absence. At all events, my ramble 

 proved that it is best to have one's eyes open 

 all the time, for the unexpected is sure to 

 happen. 



One of the prettiest bird performances I 

 have ever seen took place in the woods in 

 January. The juncos, or snowbirds, were the 

 actors in the little scene. Snow lay on the 

 ground. The birds were hungry, and took 

 their luncheon in the following unique way. 

 They would fly upon a slender weed stalk, 



