238 A BIRD-LOVER’S APRIL. 
pieces with his beak; and walking away, it oc- 
curred to me to ask whether or not he could 
probably use both feet equally well for such a 
purpose. Accordingly, seeing another go into 
an apple-tree, I drew near to take his testimony 
on that point. But when I came to look for 
him he was nowhere in sight, and pretty soon it 
appeared that he was at work in the end of an 
upright stub, which he had evidently but just 
begun to hollow out, as the tip of his tail still 
protruded over the edge. A bird-lover’s curi- 
osity can always adapt itself to circumstances, 
and in this case it was no hardship to post- 
pone the settlement of my newly raised inquiry, 
while I observed the pretty labors of my little 
architect. These proved to be by no means 
inconsiderable, lasting nearly or quite three 
weeks. The birds were still bringing away 
chips on the 30th, when their cavity was about 
eleven inches deep; but it isto be said that, as 
far as I could find out, they never worked in the 
afternoon or on rainy days. 
Their demeanor toward each other all -this 
time was beautiful to see; no effusive display of 
affection, but every appearance of a perfect mu- 
tual understanding and contentment. And their 
treatment of me was no less appropriate and 
delightful, —a happy combination of freedom 
and dignified reserve. I took it for an ex- 
