HUNTING WITH A MICROPHONE 



LOVELY LOGAN CANYON IS A HAPPY HOME FOR THE WATER OUZEL 



There were plenty of these birds along this mountain torrent and they were not difficult to 

 photograph, but the rush of the turbulent current over the rocks made so much noise that ordinary 

 methods of recording their song were impossible. The microphone was therefore removed from its 

 parabolic reflector and fastened to a rock at the edge of the stream where one little musician sang 

 at daybreak for posterity (page 716). 



of the storms headed directly for us, and 

 soon we were being pelted with hailstones 

 larger than marbles. 



There was no shelter anywhere on the 

 prairie and as we hastened into the truck 

 we noticed the alarm of the birds about us 

 when the hailstones struck around them. 

 We drove the truck to within eight inches 

 of the plover's nest to protect the eggs, 

 and immediately the bird returned to the 

 nest (page 720). 



HOW A MEADOWLARK GAVE THANKS 



Then birds started flying to us from all 

 directions, especially the showy lark bun- 

 tings, and soon there were some twenty of 

 them sitting beneath the truck. 



Then came a western meadowlark, piti- 

 fully frightened. He longed for the shelter 



of the truck, but he was a timid bird and 

 each time he approached within ten feet of 

 the car, and could see us inside, his courage 

 deserted him and he ran back. Three or 

 four times he advanced as hailstones hit 

 around him, but just as often he retreated. 



At last, summoning all his courage, he 

 made a rush for the car and slipped safely 

 beneath with the other birds. And when 

 he found himself secure at last, he loosed 

 his feelings in one of those clear, beautiful 

 songs that endear this bird to all westerners. 



From just a few inches under our feet his 

 carol of thanks burst through the car and 

 for a moment turned our thoughts to those 

 countless natural dangers which constantly 

 beset all wild creatures and to which we so 

 seldom give heed. 



Northward and then westward through 



