CHAPTER III. 



SOME VISITING CARDS. 



THERE are many branches of woodcraft in which 

 the observer must make himself proficient ere he 

 can hope to become familiar with the ways and 

 habits of birds. Tracking is one of them. Birds 

 leave many signs of their presence behind them, 

 one of the most important being their transient 

 footprints on the shining sands, smooth soft mud- 

 flats, or white expanse of snow. To the patient 

 observer who takes care to see everything and 

 to make himself familiar with its meaning, these 

 tracks are so many visiting cards, by means of 

 which he is able to read the names of the birds 

 that left them behind, and to learn much of their 

 movements. These footprint hieroglyphics have 

 a story to tell observation is the key by means 

 of which they may be read. Before attempting to 

 decipher any of these footprints in the mud or 

 snow, the observer must pay considerable attention 

 to the formation and general characteristics of the 

 feet of birds. These vary to such a remarkable 

 degree that in many instances the particular 



