TRYING TO LEARN. 239 



when he had been flying. He seized the board 

 with his claws, which clung for dear life, while 

 his body went on as it was going, with the re- 

 sult almost of a somersault. He tried to learn, 

 however. He made great efforts to master 

 the vagaries of fences, the irregularities of the 

 ground, the peculiarities of branches. He per- 

 sistently walked the rail fence, though he had to 

 spread both wings to keep his balance. Then 

 he climbed to the top of the rail which stood up 

 at the corners, and maintained his position with 

 great effort, but never gave up the attempt. 



These interesting young folks dote on fences, 

 after they get used to them, and not having 

 learned to recognize them as devices of the en- 

 emy, capable of concealing a trap of some sort, 

 they will come quite near a house when they see 

 no one about. So I, behind my blind, had ex- 

 cellent chance to watch their ways. For I try 

 to keep my window view good by contenting 

 myself with what I can see from it, and never 

 going out to give the birds a notion that they 

 must look out for visitors. 



One day when the grass had been cut from 

 the meadow before the house, and I had en- 

 camped under the shade of a big maple to see 

 how the kingbirds were coming on in nesting, I 

 noticed a young crow talking in the hot stubble, 

 trying to find something to eat. He wandered 



