BRILLIANTS IN PLUMES. 139 



the observer by ensconcing themselves in thickets 

 and tall trees. For a good many years I have 

 been trying to acquire bird-lore, and pride myself a 

 little on my skill in identifying new species ; but I 

 must confess that several species of warblers have 

 often outwitted me. The}^ gave me glimpses of 

 their shining plumes as they flashed into view for 

 a moment and then plunged headlong into the 

 copse, hiding themselves so effectually as to make 

 it impossible for me to find them with all my 

 beating and peering about. It is provoking, too, 

 to see small birds flitting about in the tops of tall 

 trees, trilling their defiance at you, but never 

 dropping low enough to give you a chance to dis- 

 tinguish their markings, although you ogle them 

 with an opera glass by the hour. 



But there are many warblers that are not so shy. 

 They come out of the thicket into plain view, per- 

 haps to identify the observer, thus giving him an 

 opportunity to return the compliment. I am 

 unable to say how many of these feathered marvels 

 I have seen here, but the number has been aston- 

 ishingly large. 



The student of bird-life is constantly meeting 

 with delightful surprises. One day in May I was 

 pursuing my favorite out-door study — ornithology, 



