52 Tue Aroostook Woops. 

two or three short steps up and down, then cuddling close 
to their branch, place their heads beneath their wings and 
soon are sleeping, whilst the old lady keeps one eye open for 
cahers. 
Passing by the same locality in midwinter the same covey 
are in the trees again budding, getting another supper of 
birch buds, and as we are toiling slowly along toward camp, 
pulling after us our heavily laden toboggans, we are more 
than willing to stop to rest a moment and watch our birds. 
Sitting upon our sleds and keeping quiet, they do not mind us 
at all after their first look and scolding us a little, merely crane 
high their necks, take a look down with one eye, commence 
to feed again and forget our presence. There is two feet of 
light snow upon the ground, the cold wind is now dying out 
and the prospect is for a cold, still night. 
The birds are about done feeding, but as the sun is shining 
a little of its last warmth for the day upon them, they sit 
close down upon the limbs hugging their feathers down to 
their bodies, draw down their necks until you just see their 
small heads above their breasts, and seem to say, ‘‘ let us have 
the very last of the sunshine ;” or perhaps they just sleep a 
little bit, and what is most likely, are saying their bird 
prayers, being thankful for this little bit of sunshine in winter 
and for the bounteous store of sweet birch buds everywhere 
growing for them. 
‘¢ We are getting tired of this, birdies; you should not sleep 
b 
when you have company.” The old lady indignant at hearing 
us speaking, or feeling the change in the temperature now 
that the sun is down, rises upon her feet and with a ** pletes! 
pletes! pletes!” flies head downward, plumb in and under 
the snow. ‘* How! had she been contemplating suicide?” 
