BIRDS'-NESTING. 205 



finished not lined or padded yet. Now if the bird 

 will only return and claim it, the point will be gained. 

 But we wait and watch in vain. The architect has 

 knocked off to-day, and we must come again, or con- 

 tinue our search. 



While loitering about here we were much amused 

 by three chipmunks, who seemed to be engaged in 

 some kind of game. It looked very much as if they 

 were playing tag. Round and round they would go, 

 first one taking the lead, then another, all good-nat- 

 ured and gleeful as school-boys. There is one thing 

 about a chipmunk that is peculiar ; he is never more 

 than one jump from home. Make a dive at him 

 anywhere and in he goes. He knows where the 

 hole is, even when it is covered up with leaves. 

 There is no doubt, also, that he has his own sense 

 of humor and fun, as what squirrel has not ? I have 

 watched two red squirrels for a half-hour cours- 

 ing through the large trees by the road-side where 

 branches interlocked, and engaged in a game of tag 

 as obviously as two boys. As soon as the pursuer 

 had come up with the pursued, and actually touched 

 him, the palm was his, and away he would go, tax- 

 ing his wits and his speed to the utmost to elude his 

 fellow. 



Despairing of finding either of the nests of the 

 two males, we pushed on through the woods to try 

 our luck elsewhere. Before long, just as we were 

 about to plunge down a hill, into a dense, swampy 

 part of the woods, we discovered a pair of the birds 



