MILL CREEK. 193 



the locomotive as the "limited express" went hurrying 

 westward, and that marvellous train seemed not half so 

 wonderful as the swallow's wing. 



So far as these birds are concerned, one need not won- 

 der at their migrations. In less than a day and a half 

 they can transport themselves to the tropics, or as near 

 them as they see fit to go, when winter's rigor drives 

 them from their summer haunts. And the other birds ? 

 You rouse their curiosity when you sit in a tree and 

 can study them at leisure. The first to come after the 

 swallow's fleeting visit was a cuckoo. It perched upon 

 a twig but a few feet away, and failed at first to recog- 

 nize me. Then what I was slowly dawned upon it, and 

 it spluttered a guttural exclamation that you, kind read- 

 er, and I would probably translate quite differently. Af- 

 ter long intercourse with birds of many kinds and a few 

 representative mammals, I am inclined to look upon pro- 

 fanity as a product of evolution. But the cuckoo was 

 not mad. It merely took a back seat and contemplated 

 me. What the cuckoo thought, do not ask, but if a bird 

 has once been seen sitting and watching a man as that 

 one did, it will not be denied that it does think. 



I glanced about to see if there was any attraction for 

 the bird, and saw a group of caterpillars almost within 

 my reach. I wished that I was a little farther off, that 

 the cuckoo might eat them, and then wondered if he 

 would not in time muster up the necessary courage. 

 This he finally did. Finding that I was perfectly quiet, 

 he ventured a little nearer, and at last reached the outer 

 side of the group of caterpillars. Like lightning he 

 seized perhaps a dozen, and then his courage failed him. 

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