THE HAYMAKER OF THE HEIGHTS 25 



call as though relaying a message from his 

 station. Many of these "Skee-eks" may at 

 times be just common cony talk, while others, 

 given with different speeds and inflections, 

 sometimes are quick and peculiarly accented, 

 and probably warn of possible danger or tell of 

 the approach of something harmless. 



One spring day I came by Rocky's place and 

 he was not in sight. I waited long, then laid 

 my sweater upon his slab of granite and went 

 on to the home of another cony. On returning 

 Rocky was home. Like a little watch dog he 

 sat upon the sweater. 



Another time in June he was out in the hay 

 meadow eating the short young plants. I stood 

 within ten feet of him and he went on eating as 

 though he did not know I was there. Occa- 

 sionally he called "Ke-ack" that appeared to 

 be relayed to far-off conies. He did not seem 

 to be watching me but the instant I moved he 

 darted beneath a rock out of sight. 



Conies are shy wherever I have found them, 

 and I found many in places possibly not before 

 visited by people. 



Rocky's nearest cony neighbour was more than 

 two hundred feet away across the boulders. 

 During a winter visit to him I found cony tracks 

 which indicated that these two conies had ex- 

 changed calls. 



