108 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



still nests in trees and loves to search for grubs in dead limbs, 

 so his feet are not changed to suit his ground feeding, thus he 

 can share the habits of two types of birds, though his movements 

 on the grouud are not graceful, whereas if he had feet suited to 

 his ground feeding alone he would be entirely unable to feed 

 and nest in the trees. In so small a place as the Haunt one 

 can ascertain almost exactly how many individuals of a species 

 are wintering. There were half again as many Flickers present 

 last winter as they were the winter before. 



The Flicker is a very good American, he is not harmful as a 

 few of his relatives are ; he is decidedly ornamental, and the 

 reproductive powers of the species are so great that I feel sure 

 it will become more and more abundant. 



When I have finished my studying in the evening I often go 

 out for a few minutes to get a good breath of air before retir- 

 ing. Snow covers the ground, and as I go crunching along the 

 grove-path the light breeze whispers through the tall oaks on my 

 right. I can distinguish faintly the familiar outline of "Maple 

 Row" and "The Orchard." Passing down to the pond's edge I 

 pause for a moment. All at once there is a great commotion in 

 the elms overhead, followed by a loud "quawk." I wait a minute 

 and from the heart of the grove the cry is repeated as my Night 

 Heron takes up a new place of repose for the night. 



Thus the winter passes. No trip, even in the dull days of Jan- 

 uary, but has its interest in the Haunt ; every comer has its 

 interest and the little trip each morning is of inestimable value 

 as a beginning for the day's work. Besides all this a real 

 knowledge of the different species can be obtained, and perhaps 

 a greater love for the birds because of personal acquaintance day 

 after day with the same individuals. 



In the spring, however, is the Haunt of the greatest interest. 

 Then does the follower of the birds feel the greatest pleasure 

 and excitement ; then does a nature student feel most like spend- 

 ing each and every day afield. After its long sleep the foliage 

 awakes again and the "spring fever" attacks man and bird. An 

 immediate effect is seen in every bird of the Haunt, even before 

 the first migrants have arrived the winter residents give signs of 

 the coming glad season, and when the skunk-cabbage has pushed 

 its way through the ice and snow at the pond's edge, and the 

 pussy-willows have thrust their silky heads into view, we feel 

 that spring has really begun. I can best follow the immediate 

 arrival of the birds by quoting from my journal. 



