WINTER LIFE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS 219 



around inside one of them. He does not hesitate to go in at 

 a window if he finds one open. 



One day just before the close of the year I heard a great 

 outcry among the branches of a large Spanish oak near by. 

 I hastened to the window and found that the flicker was in 

 more trouble. A company of blue jays were feeding in the 

 grove. Many were searching for acorns in the leaves on 

 the ground, which when found would be carried promptly 

 up to a limb, and pounded open. While one was thus en- 

 gaged the flicker's inquisitiveness led him to venture too 

 near, whereupon the jay remonstrated loudly, screaming 

 and flaunting her blue and white feathers about in a most 

 excited manner. 



The flicker was evidently quite abashed, and retreated 

 around the limb, chattering something which I thought 

 might be to the effect that she need not make so much fuss 

 about nothing. There were two or three other flickers in 

 the grove and they seemed to enjoy the discomfort of their 

 friend immensely. A moment later one of them alighted 

 on the limb by his side and, bobbing his head in a most odd 

 and quaint manner, offered by way of encouragement his 

 characteristic remark of ^^ walk-up, ivalk-up/' 



Just then a sparrow hawk came around the corner of the 

 building and perched on a limb. It was Xantippe, the quar- 

 relsome little lady bird we had watched about the campus 



