2o8 THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



in endless pranks. He is strong for vaudeville and 

 farces; he likes to impersonate, to surprise, and to 

 annoy. I once saw a number of jays in an exhibi- 

 tion in which each seemed to be endeavouring to 

 outdo the others. They skipped and jumped, 

 kicked awkwardly, caricatured the pose of a stork, 

 somersaulted, and tried flying from a height with 

 one wing and dropping ungracefully upside down — 

 no end of reckless rowdyism and mockery. 



Once in the snow on a mountain top I saw a flock 

 of ptarmigan in a strange, energetic, though silent, 

 dance. Most birds are quiet in their play. 



Four sedate and wise old owls surprised me be- 

 yond measure with a play that was mostly ridicu- 

 lous showing-off. They tried to do a few things 

 absurdly impossible for them to do. One of these 

 stunts was chasing their tails, and another was 

 high kicking. But most of their efforts were more 

 in keeping with their ordinary mien; they bowed 

 profoundly, they posed in lordly pairs, they looked 

 to the right and left with a most aristocratic air, 

 they adjusted and readjusted themselves with 

 ceremonious dignity. 



The energetic beaver gives marked attention to 

 play. Each summer he has a vacation of three 

 months or longer. He probably loafs the most of 

 any animal in the wilds. He plays much and often 

 and is master of the fine art of rest. 



Although I have seen mountain lions only a few 

 times when they were not frightened, twice I 



