20 BIRD STORIES FROM BURROUGHS 



borhood very industriously for food. She would 

 run along over the short grass after the manner 

 of robins, stopping every few feet, her form stiff 

 and erect. Now and then she would suddenly 

 bend her head toward the ground and bring eye 

 or ear for a moment to bear intently upon it. 

 Then she would spring to boring the turf vigor- 

 ously with her bill, changing her attitude at each 

 stroke, alert and watchful, throwing up the grass 

 roots and little jets of soil, stabbing deeper and 

 deeper, growing every moment more and more 

 excited, till finally a fat grub was seized and 

 brought forth. Time after time, during several 

 days, I saw her mine for grubs in this way and 

 drag them forth. How did she know where to 

 drill? The insect was in every case an inch be- 

 low the surface. Did she hear it gnawing the 

 roots of the grasses, or did she see a movement 

 in the turf beneath which the grub was at work? 

 I know not. I only know that she struck her 

 game unerringly each time. Only twice did I 

 see her make a few thrusts and then desist, as if 

 she had been for the moment deceived. 



