FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



work he trained a pair of birds by setting up three sticks for a 

 tripod, using a soap box for a camera, with an old coat for a 

 focussing cloth, until by the time I reached them they were neither 

 man-shy nor camera-shy. His leases were covered with Martin 

 and Bluebird boxes, timid forest birds builded close his power- 

 houses, often in the very trees under which his hammock swung. 



Bob passed the Shrike corner on the way between two wells, 

 and he told nie of the enterprise in the apple-tree. There was no 

 other tree close. Four lines of old snake-fences, bearing their 

 usual load of treasures, crept to a meeting under its friendly 

 boughs. Above it was a clear broad sweep of summer sky, across 

 which birds from the woods constantly trailed in a broken line of 

 flight to bathe or to hunt food at the river. Beneath it Stanley's 

 sleek herd, with the beringed ears denoting beasts of high degree, 

 chewed their cuds, switched flies and welcomed the ministrations 

 of a large flock of Cow-birds. 



Subjects were located in each of those four fields. In one, 

 under an arch of growing wheat, I had made a study of a Lark's 

 beautiful nest and was waiting for the young to hatch. Through 

 the adjoining clover-field Bob and I hunted ceaselessly for the 

 nest of a Bobolink, which strutted the rod-line, playing the clown 

 while pouring out a lilting melody that at times seemed especially 

 improvised to mock our unavailing efforts to find his home. 



At any rate the search was a delight, for the perfume of clover 

 was heavy on the air, the drowsy hum of big bumblebees, 

 staggering on wing with loads of gold, was a lulling sound ; singing 

 grasshoppers, beautifully coloured and striped, feasted here; 

 satin-winged butterflies wavered over the field while the Bobolink 

 swung on the rod-line straining his throat to produce notes suffi- 

 ciently sweet to tell it all to the brooding mate we were seeking. 



Once this search for the Bobolink became a terror. Early in 

 the morning while passing the field he flew across the road in front 



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