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 is to 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- 



