59 



V. 



MARCH 15th. 



Red-bellied Nuthatch — Voice and Habits — Fear of Man. — Insects. — 

 Torpidity, — Power of resisting Cold. — Mammals. — Birds. — Temperature 

 of Cold-blooded Animals. — Why polished Surfaces are cold. — Laying 

 up of Food by Insects. — Chambers of Mining Ants. — Mosses and 

 Lichens on Trees. 



Charles. — What bird makes that singular noise^, " quank, 

 quank, quank ? " Yonder woods are resounding with it ; I 

 should think it is a large bird from the noise it makes. 



Father. — We will go towards it : perhaps we may 

 see it. 



C. — The sound still seems to recede as we advance. — 

 There it passes directly over our heads, yet no bird is visible. 

 Hark ! now it proceeds from the right hand, seemingly about 

 two hundred yards distant. 



F. — Look at that old maple, a yard or two on your 

 right : — watch the trunk. 



C. — I see nothing. Oh ! yes : there are two little blue- 

 backed birds, crawling up and down, something like mice. 

 Can it be possible that the notes which I supposed so far off 

 proceed from them ? 



F. — Yes : but how faintly they are now uttered ; and 

 even while we look at them we can scarcely believe that the 

 sound does not reach us from a considerable distance. But 

 they have observed that we are watching them : see how 

 warily they keep on the opposite side of the tree. Stand 

 still a few moments, and we shall see them again. 



