secure a specimen of "fantail," a 

 proper sacrifice for the advancement 

 of knowledge. 



After infinite precaution, wriggling 

 past branches, avoiding a step on 

 twig, dead leaf or any noise maker, 

 we arrived at a spot that is deep 

 graven in my memory. It was a 

 small open basin, perhaps a hundred 

 yards in diameter, surrounded by a 

 ring of dense second-growth saplings. 

 The marks of a forest fire were every- 

 where present in the charred sticks 

 heaped one on the other, making 

 travel through it impossible, com- 

 bined as it was, with tall marsh grass 

 and bog foundation. The tree circle 

 was interrupted only at the spot, 

 where we were. Here was salt lick, a 

 forty-foot patch of ground where the 

 earth was mixed with strong alkali. 

 These are not uncommon in the 

 mountains and invariably are the 

 resorts of animals when instinct sends 

 them seeking for salines. A game 

 trail led through this one and many 

 tracks showed its popularity. 



The Cap'n with a dramatic gesture 

 pointed to the ground and Nimrod 

 was on his knees at once examining 



