228 WATCHED BY WILD ANIMALS 



observed of all observers. Through the years 

 it must have seen ten thousand tragedies, 

 comedies, courtships, plays, and games of these 

 happy little people of the plains. 



No dog hole was within fifty feet of the old 

 cottonwood tree. The tree probably offered 

 the wily coyote concealment behind which he 

 sometimes approached to raid; and from its 

 top hawks often dived for young dogs, for mice, 

 and also for grasshoppers. I suppose owls often 

 used it for a philosophizing stand, and also for 

 a point of vantage from which to hoot derision 

 on the low-down, numerous populace. 



But the old tree was not wholly allied with 

 evil, and was a nesting site for orioles, wrens, 

 and bluebirds. From its summit through the 

 summer days the meadow lark with breast of 

 black and gold would send his silvery notes 

 sweetly ringing across the wide, wide prairie. 



