24 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



That was the jay's custom — to come from the 

 woods before even the earliest risers were up, 

 and forage in the village. By and bye I discov- 

 ered that, by lying motionless for an hour or so 

 on the dry moss in the wood, he would at length 

 grow so bold as to allow himself to be seen, but 

 high up among the topmost branches. Then, by 

 means of my binocular, I had the wild thing on 

 my thumb, so to speak, exhibiting himself to me, 

 inquisitive, perplexed, suspicious, enraged by 

 turns, as he flirted wings and tail, lifted and low- 

 ered his crest, glancing down with bright, wild 

 eyes. What a beautiful hypocrisy and delightful 

 power this is which enables us, sitting or lying 

 motionless, feigning sleep perhaps, thus to fool 

 this wild, elusive creature, and bring all its cun- 

 ning to naught! He is so much smaller and 

 keener-sighted, able to fly, to perch far up above 

 me, to shift his position every minute or two, 

 masking his small figure with this or that tuft 

 of leaves, while still keeping his eyes on me — 

 in spite of it all to have him so close, and with- 

 out moving or taking any trouble, to see him so 

 much better than he can see me! But this is a 

 legitimate trickery of science, so innocent that we 



