46 THE LOON. 



in a neighboring woods. 



(to be continued.) 



A DAY WITH THE BIRDS. 



BY J. CLAIRE WOOD. 



On the 10th. of March 1887 I wandered into the woods 

 with note book and shot gun to spend the day among 

 the birds and secure a few specimens for a friend. 



The part of the woods I first entered was high and 

 covered mostly with beech trees. No bird-life was to be 

 seen except a Downy Woodpecker busily engaged in 

 drilling a hole in a knotted limb and a single black Snow- 

 bird. As I descended to the lower ground however I 

 found myself among bluebirds and many other early ar- 

 rivals. I approached the trunk of a rough bark elm 

 where two Nuthatches were feeding and stood within 

 arms length of them without their even noticing me. 



Brown Creepers peered anxiously around the trees, 

 and occasionally I passed a flock of Chickadees. These 

 tiny specimens of the feathered creation often meet with 

 a very warm reception from the fowling piece of the boy 

 sportsman. I emerged into a field covered with small 

 clumps of berry bushes and was skirting around the edge 

 of it, for my boots were leaky and I was desirous of a- 

 voiding the water, when a large Hawk left the trees a- 



