I08 NATURK STUDY. 



and will protect animals intrusted to their care at every risk to 

 themselves, even dogs are obliged to yield to their authority. 



They may be trusted with the care of a flock of sheep or domes- 

 tic fowls, and every morning will drive the ducks and poultry to 

 their feeding places, and carefully collecting any stragglers, bring 

 them safely home at night. A yakamik soon learns to know and 

 obey the voice of his master, follows him, when permitted, wher- 

 ever he goes, and appears delighted at receiving his caresses. It 

 pines at his absence, and welcomes his return, and is extremely 

 jealous of any rival. Should any animal attack its master, the ya- 

 kamik in iitmost fury attacks it with wings and beak, driving it 

 away. 



It presents itself regularly during meals, from which it chases 

 all domestic animals, and even the negroes who wait on the table, 

 if it is not well aquainted with them, and only asks for a share of 

 the eatables after it has driven away all who might aspire to a fa- 

 vorable notice from the family. 



Some Birds Seen at Martha's Vineyard. 



BV A PINFEATHER ORNITHOLOGIST. 



Martha's Vineyard is a sandy island lying three miles 

 from the southern shore of Cape Cod. It is twenty-three 

 miles long, by ten wide, and shows a very diversified sur- 

 face. There are hills three to four hundred feet high, 

 where the quail and upland plover are found. There is a 

 perfectly level plain some five miles square which is cov- 

 ered with a low, impenetrable oak scrub. Here the heath 

 hen and partridge live practically undisturbed. The field 

 mouse and the locust thrive here, consequently the hawk 

 and the chewink think these plains good feeding grounds, 

 while the Maryland yellow-throat and the vesper sparrow 

 call to one from every hand. Reedy marshes give nest- 

 ing sites to the grackles and blackbirds. Deep woods 

 shelter the oven-birds and other warblers, and give the 

 jays a famous scieaming ground. I^ong, shallow ponds at- 

 tract th'j wading and diving birds, while rolling surf, and 



