AN OWL'S HEAD HOLIDAY. 257 



have done so that evening, as they recalled to 

 each other my eager fumbling of that innocent 

 old stump. This opinion as to the meaning of 

 their conduct was confirmed in the course of a 

 few days, when I came upon another similar 

 group. These were at first quite unaware of my 

 presence ; and a very pretty family picture they 

 made, in their snuggery of overthrown trees, 

 the father breaking out into a song once in a 

 while, or helping his mate to feed the young, 

 who were already able to pick up a good part 

 of their own living. Before long, however, one 

 of the pair caught sight of the intruder, and then 

 all at once the scene changed. The old birds 

 chattered and scolded, bobbing up and down in 

 their own ridiculous manner (although, consid- 

 ered by itself, this gesture is perhaps no more 

 laughable than some which other orators are 

 applauded for making), and soon the place was 

 silent and to all appearance deserted. 



Notwithstanding Owl's Head is in Canada, 

 the birds, as I soon found, were not such as 

 characterize the " Canadian Fauna." Olive- 

 backed thrushes, black-poll warblers, crossbills, 

 pine linnets, and Canada jays, all of which I 

 had myself seen in the White Mountains, were 

 none of them here ; but instead, to my surprise, 

 were wood thrushes, scarlet tanagers, and wood 

 pewees, the two latter species in comparative 



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