268 IN A LOG CAMP 



able of bird-cries ; but so much company in the 

 neighborhood soon reduced them to silence. 

 They came and went without a sound until 

 the young appeared, when the mother could 

 not restrain an exultant " pip," as she flew 

 away from her nursery. 



Very early in our acquaintance I strayed 

 down to call upon the sapsuckers rather, 

 I struggled down over a short section of cor- 

 duroy road, around rocks and stumps, and 

 crossing a gully on logs and unstable bits of 

 timber, at the imminent risk of a tumble. 

 As soon as I reached the old stub the wood- 

 pecker himself came out of the door, alighted 

 on the side near me, and saluted me with an 

 imperative note, jerking his body excitedly, 

 as if asking my business, or protesting against 

 my impertinent presence. He was a splendid 

 specimen in immaculate black and white, with 

 flaming crest and throat-patch, above a shin- 

 ing black breast-plate, looking far too dressy 

 for his modest gray dwelling. 



It was well I took careful note of him, for 

 that was his last appearance, in my sight, 

 for days. I had watched him with my glass 

 from the piazza, and I knew it was his habit 



