238 'IN AUTUMN. 



of his wings upon my face. But, better than all, 

 I saw something o f the swifter tactics of 

 threatened birds. Their darting earthward was 

 simply, marvelous ; their clinging to the under 

 side of branches was wonderful ; but, above all, 

 the instantaneous recognition of danger and 

 promptness to find a safe shelter struck me. 

 After all, the sense of clanger was ever present 

 with these happy-go-lucky birds. Unless there 

 was such a sense controlling them their move- 

 merits could not have been so efficacious and so 

 wholly free from confusion. Here is no loose in- 

 terpretation that profound critics love to dwell 

 upon. One has but to see a host of birds, and if 

 of several species so much the better, to recog- 

 nize how busily their brains keep working that 

 the dangers really ever in attendance shall not 

 rob them of all comfort. 



Never shall I forget one tiny kinglet that 

 squatted upon the blanket at my feet. Its wings 

 were outspread, and, looking directly up, it 

 seemed in utter despair ; but the shadow passed 

 as quickly as it came, and when I innocently 

 stooped to pick up and soothe the kinglet, it was 

 too much itself again, and sped away as cheerily 

 as though nothing had happened. 



"What next?" I asked after a moment's 

 quiet ; for the kaleidoscopic effect of ever-shift- 

 ing flocks of busy birds soon became monotonous. 



