92 BOULDER REVERIES. 



seemed trying to out-do the other, but the one on 

 the east had the better sounding board and his 

 music was the louder and the clearer. The 

 west-end bird had a companion red-head, and 

 sometimes two, within a foot of him and he beat 

 the rattling drum-call twice or three times to the 

 other's once, seemingly trying to make up in 

 quantity what his sounds lacked in strength. 

 For ten minutes thus they challenged and coun- 

 ter-challenged. Then the one on the east went 

 galloping in vigorous flight o'er the pasture to 

 a distant snag, while the west-ender and his 

 companion each flew down and stole a grain of 

 corn from an opening in the crib, then went 

 westward to some oaks and maples. In five 

 minutes they were back, and as soon as the mu- 

 sician had tried his shingle once or twice back 

 came the east-end bird and went at his. Again 

 for several minutes were the challenges rattled 

 out and again the birds departed as before. 

 Whether this performance is continued at regu- 

 lar intervals throughout the day I know not, but 

 I judge that each bird lays claim to a certain 



