156 Bird- Lore 



"were a few small dark gray feathers. He had hidden the acorns by 

 putting pieces of bark over them. I then went back to where he 

 was and saw him drinking water, like a chicken, out of the brooklet. 

 After returning from a short walk, I saw him carrying a large piece 

 of bark to put over the acorns that I had uncovered. He started 

 from the base of his stub, but as- the bark was nearly as large as he 

 i;vas he could not carry it and was forced to drop it. As it was then 

 nearly dark, I had to go home without learning where he stayed 

 nights, and which, indeed, I never found out. 



The next Sunday, the i6th of October, I did not have much time. 

 When I reached the ravine he was catching insects. He was in the 

 top of a tree and would fly out after the insects at they flew by but, 

 growing tried of this, he went to the ground after an acorn. When 

 I went to the hole in which I had found the sixteen acorns before, 

 I now took out forty- five. 



Sunday, November ig, I thought I would pay my Red-head 

 a visit. As I did not see hipi for about fifteen minutes, I 

 thought that some wandering hunter had killed him ; but while look- 

 ing around I heard a welcome ker-r-r-ruck, and there he was on his 

 favorite stub. After taking a look at me, he flew down for a drink, 

 with a loud note before he left the stub and shorter ones in between 

 ■drinks to call attention, and well he might ! His somber head had 

 turned red since I had seen him last. The color was a little dark in 

 places, but was fine all the same. 



I next saw him on Sunday, November 26. I had gone to my usual 

 place of study and was watching some Pine Siskins when he appear- 

 ed. He was rather cross, for he chased a Tree Sparrow until it took 

 refuge in a thick, bushy thorn-apple tree. Then he watched until 

 it came out and took after it agan. I watched him sunning him- 

 self — for it was quite warm — and then went over to the hole in which 

 I had found so many acorns. It was empty, and a number of shells 

 were scattered around the foot of the tree. 



From my note-book I see that the date of my next visit was 

 Sunday, December 3. It was cold and snowing quite hard. I put 

 on my overcoat and went down to see him. I may have wanted 

 to see him, but he was evidently afraid of that big black thing in 

 the fence-corner. He scolded and bobbed as though crazy till a pair 

 of Blue Jays lighted in the tree. He was afraid of them and went 

 around to the other side of the trunk and kept still until they left. 



On Monday February 12, I saw him last. He was across the 

 river from the ravine in a tree after acorns. 



I know that he is still here and alive, and I intend to watch 

 him in the spring when he sets up housekeeping. 



