194 HAPS IN THE FIELD 



standpoint, it is said, by a French writer, 

 who asserts boldly that the animal is supe- 

 rior to man in altruism. " Animal Societies," 

 he says, " are less polished, but, all things 

 being equal, are more humane than ours." 

 This doubtless sounds absurd to most people, 

 but one who has closely studied living birds, 

 free, and under natural conditions, finds much 

 in their lives which makes him at least con- 

 sider. 



An incident bearing on this point occurred 

 not long ago in a Western city. It caused 

 surprise and aroused great interest in those 

 who saw it, and it is fully vouched for by 

 unimpeachable witnesses. This is the story : 

 A nestling of the red-headed woodpecker 

 species was found on the ground, injured so 

 that he could not fly, nor even hold on to a 

 branch when placed there by a sympathetic 

 friend ; and by the way, I once had personal 

 experience with a bird of the same species 

 afflicted in the same way. 



The little unfortunate remained on the 

 ground, hopping about in disconsolate fash- 

 ion, assiduously attended by his distracted 

 parents. Other woodpeckers came around 



