WOODLAND PATHS 



hunting and settled down for a noonday 

 nap. It chose for this a spot on the black 

 and white angle of a red alder shrub, 

 where it would look exactly like a knot on 

 the wood. Then it fluffed down into a fat 

 ball of feathers and for a half-hour seemed 

 to snooze, motionless except for its head, 

 that every few seconds turned and looked 

 this way and then that. It was a noonday 

 nap, but it was sleeping with both eyes 

 open. 



The kingfisher, always an example of 

 nervous energy, .flitted back and forth 

 outside the willow barrier, springing his 

 rattle in short vigorous calls. Once he 

 fell into the water with a splash, and 

 came out again with a young white perch 

 in his mouth. By and by he gave an 

 extra shout and went off over the hill and 

 was gone an hour. Then two came back 



and the air was vivid with friendly stac- 

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