134 THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, 



Perhaps this understanding of the leaf-sounds 

 might be called " interpretation " ; but before you 

 can interpret them, you must hear them; and no 

 dozing, dreaming, fuddling sitter upon a stump has 

 ears to hear. 



As you sit there, you notice a blue jay perched 

 silent and unafraid directly over you not an ordi- 

 nary, common way for a blue jay to act. "Why?" 

 you ask. Why, a nest, of course, somewhere near ! 

 Or, suddenly round and round the trunk of a large 

 oak tree whirls a hummingbird. "Queer," you say. 

 Then up she goes and throwing your eye ahead 

 of her through the tree-tops you chance to intercept 

 her bee-line flight a hint ! She is probably gather- 

 ing lichens for a nest which she is building some- 

 where near, in the direction of her flight. A whirl! 

 a flash ! as quick as light! You have a wonderful 

 story ! 



Now do not get the impression that all one needs 

 to do in order to become acquainted with the life of 

 the woods is to sit on a stump a long time, say noth- 

 ing, and listen hard. All that is necessary rather, 

 the ability to do it is necessary ; but in the woods or 

 out it is also necessary to exercise common sense. 

 Guess, for instance, when guessing is all that you 

 can do. You will learn more, however, and learn it 

 faster, generally, by following it up, than by sitting 

 on a stump and guessing about it. 



At twilight, in the late spring and early summer, 



