134 THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 



Perhaps this understanding of the leaf-sounds 

 might be called "interpretation"; but before you 

 *can interpret them, you must hear them ; and no 

 I dozing, dreaming, fuddling sitter upon a stump has ^ . 

 ears to hear. 



As you sit there, you notice a blue jay perched - : 

 silent and unafraid directly over you not an ordi- 

 nary, common way for a blue jay to act. "Why?" 

 .you ask. Why, a nest, of course, somewhere near! 

 '-> Or, suddenly round and round the trunk of a large 

 oak tree whirls a hummingbird. "Queer," you say. . 

 Then up she goes and throwing your eye ahead 

 .of her through the tree-tops you chance to intercept * 

 '^her bee-line flight a hint ! She is probably gather- 

 * ing lichens for a nest which she is building some- 

 where near, in the direction of her flight. A whirl! w^ 

 a flash ! as quick as light ! You have a wonderful } 

 v story ! 



.-'-'> Now do not get the impression that all one needs 

 to do in order to become acquainted with the life of <5jjpjw 

 the woods is to sit on a stump a long time, say noth- 

 > ing, and listen hard. All that is necessary rather, 

 i ' ^? the ability to do it is necessary ; but in the woods or 

 ^ out it is also necessary to exercise common sense, 

 i* Guess, for instance, when guessing is all that you 

 tcan do. You will learn more, however, and learn it 

 y^y faster, generally, by following it up, than by sitting 

 '^on a stump and guessing about it. 



At twilight, in the late spring and early summer, 



