90 DAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



to have been gained, but the upward-borne leaf has its 

 revenge. It is merely pierced, not torn asunder, and 

 retaliates by holding the May-apple firmly bound, and the 

 glory of its growth, the outspreading of its umbrella-leaf, 

 is effectually prevented. I think of more than one poor 

 fellow, as I write, who has an unyielding oak leaf hope- 

 lessly binding his powers. Mr. Blank, over the way, is a 

 closed umbrella. 



Later, while strolling by a meadow pond, and my com- 

 panion searching for warblers among the scattered trees 

 upon its banks, I was startled by a shrill screaming, and 

 was astonished to see with what energy an irate swallow 

 pursued a kingfisher. The cause of the quarrel can only 

 be conjectured, but revenge was the evident impulse of 

 the offended bird, and, with a daring and rapidity of move- 

 ment that would put even a wren to shame, it struck the 

 fleeing kingfisher again and again, as it darted among the 

 trees, screeching with terror. 



The courage of a bird accomplishes much, and if all 

 our helpless species had both quicker tempers and yet re- 

 mained coolly brave, their enemies, the falcons, would 

 prove less dangerous. A little cunning would often en- 

 able the pursued warbler to outwit the hawk, for the latter 

 depends upbn brute force. 



We found a few birds at last. Among tall pin-oaks 

 in a neglected meadow were yellow red-polled warblers ; 

 restless, of course, as is all their tribe, but silent, save to 

 those who might be anxious to hear their lisping song. 

 By dint of listening, their few weak notes were recognized 

 amid the twitter and chirping of swallows and sparrows ; 

 but the result was scarcely worth the effort required of us. 

 Think of following through bog, through bush, through 

 brake, through brier, to hear a mere midget in yellow- 



