WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH BIRDS 



sification of species; "those that have hooked tallons, as Hawkes; 

 or long round claws, as Hennes; or else they be broad, flat and 

 whole- footed, as Geese," and wonder in which class the bird can 

 be placed. I was all eagerness to see these birds, but hesitated, 

 not because of doubts that I would go and make studies of them 

 eventually, but because it required thinking as to how it could be 

 accomplished. The Limberlost was my one spot of forbidden 

 territory. A rash promise had been made never to go there, but 

 this sounded too alluring. I immediately sought the Deacon. 



"I want to take back my promise not to go to the Limberlost,'* 

 I said. 



"Can't release you, girlie," answered the Deacon. 



We do not live long with people in this world until we discover 

 their weak spot. One of the Deacon's is relics, specimens and 

 curios, first cousin to natural history. 



"What a pity!" I murmured meditatively. "This is the only 

 opportunity I ever have had to take a white baby as large as a 

 Gosling, with a big speckled blue egg beside it, and of course I'll 

 never have another." 



"What's that!" cried the Deacon. 



"How do you expect me to tell what it is, if I must not go and 

 see?" I countered. 



"When did you want to go?" questioned the Deacon. 



I thought of the old adage about striking the hot iron and 

 answered promptly, "This minute!" 



"But I can't go now," said the Deacon. 



"Then the blue egg will hatch and I won't get a picture of it 

 beside the white baby. I am reliably informed that it has large 

 dark speckles on it, the egg, not the baby. Mr. Bolds sent a 

 man to tell me." 



76 



