202 IN THE MIDDLE CO UN TE Y. 



I passed him six times a day, going and coming 

 from my meals, and I always stopped to look at 

 him a scrutiny which he bore unmoved, in 

 dove fashion. So one morning, when I stood 

 three feet from him, I began a very low whistle 

 to him. He was at once interested, and after 

 about three calls he answered me, very low, it 

 is true, but still unmistakably. Though he re- 

 plied, however, it appeared to make him uneasy, 

 for while he had been in the habit of submitting 

 to my staring without being in any way discon- 

 certed, he now began to fidget about. He stood 

 up, changed his place, flew to a higher branch, 

 and in a few moments to the next tree ; all the 

 time, however, answering my calls. 



I was greatly interested in my new acquaint- 

 ance, and the next day I renewed my advances. 

 As before, he answered, looking bright and 

 eager, as I had never seen one of his kind look, 

 and after three or four replies he became uneasy, 

 as on the previous day, and in a moment he flew. 

 But I was surprised and startled by his starting 

 straight for me. I thought he would certainly 

 alight on me, and such, I firmly believe, was his 

 inclination, but he apparently did not quite dare 

 trust me, so he passed over by a very few inches, 

 and perched on the tree I was under. Then 

 still replying to me he flew to the ground not 

 six feet from me, and step by step, slowly moved 



