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. 



