42 TWO ATLANTIC COAST ISLANDS 



resident Kingfisher does not give the alarm, a Black Duck 

 with her brood may be seen, and, more rarely, one may catch 

 a glimpse of a radiant Wood Duck, floating on the clear 

 brown water. At dusk, the whistling of a Woodcock's wings 

 and the momentary sight of the birds rapidly flying to fresh 

 feeding grounds, adds another game-bird to the list. 



In the grass-grown fields, ready for the mower, and on 

 the rolling plains where sheep graze, are Meadowlarks, Ves- 

 per, Field, Savanna and Grasshopper Sparrows, with King- 

 birds and Indigo Buntings in the bordering tree-lines. 



From every side comes the splendid, vigorous whistle of 

 Bob-White, and often the singer may be seen, perched on 

 the top rail of a fence, replying in kind to a rival, occupying 

 a similar position on the other side of the field. 



Approaching the borders of the woods, where thicket 

 growths encroach upon the fields, one is sure to have the 

 always startling experience of flushing an English Pheas- 

 ant ; and in the morning and evening, the little, immature, 

 bantam-like crow of cock Pheasants is a distinctly strange 

 and foreign note. 



In spite of its abundance, the novelty of this bird 's ap- 

 pearance does not wear off. As, with a cackle and a roar of 

 wings, the bird seemed to burst from the earth, I invariab- 

 ly paused to watch the magnificent creature rise, rocket- 

 like, and sail away into cover ; nor did one think of moving 

 until it was lost to view. The manner in which a cock 

 Pheasant can conceal himself where there is apparently not 

 sufficient cover for a Sparrow, was a never-ending source 

 of wonder. Scarcely less astonishing than the flight of the 

 adult Pheasants is the wing-power of the chicks. When evi- 

 dently not more than two or three days old, they fly with a 

 speed and certainty of aim which quickly carries them to 

 the near-by shelter. The sitting females are exceedingly 

 wary, leaving the nest with but little cause and returning 

 with much caution. The picture here presented was secur- 

 ed only after the camera had been set for a day and a half. 



