112 Bird-Land Echoes. 



I have said that these gathered birds were always 

 contented. I forgot the occasions when young 

 sparrow-hawks came and tested their skill at bird- 

 capture. Why does not the kingbird come to the 

 rescue then ? Doubtless it has the courage, but it is 

 a question of wing-power, and the kingbird knows 

 its limitations. This, however, I have seen it do : 

 sound an alarm and so put every bird about it on 

 the watch, thus indirectly baffling the intruder. It 

 would be a most satisfactory thing if we better under- 

 stood bird-language and the relationship that different 

 species bear to each other. In other words, what 

 does a cat-bird think of a wren, or a kingbird of 

 a field-sparrow ? There is constant association, and 

 it is hard to believe that they disregard each other. 

 Do class distinctions exist among birds ? That small 

 birds will band together at a moment's notice against 

 a common enemy is evident enough when a sleep- 

 ing owl is discovered, or a stuffed one is placed in 

 a conspicuous position near a nest, as I have often 

 done. Phew ! what a racket is kicked up ! But of 

 late no picture of an owl has the same effect, al- 

 though I had results years ago that led me to a 

 different conclusion, and I do not admit that 

 I was wrong then. There is a barrier between 

 men and birds that I fear can never be broken 

 down. Much as we know or think we know, there 

 is much more of which we are ignorant, and recent 

 literature has given us little reason to suppose that 

 we shall ever possess all the information that is 

 desirable. 



