40 BIRD PARADISE 



not a moment was spent bemoaning the mishap. 

 At least so it all appeared. With the finishing 

 of the leveling process came the uprising of every 

 creature in the band. Hardly an hour passed ere 

 the old order was restored and the bands of 

 workers were on duty in every direction. The 

 strokes of the levelers opened to the light the 

 inner chambers of the dwelling. The first work 

 was to put new doors to all these places. I 

 estimated that on the space of three feet square 

 there were two or three thousand workers. In a 

 few days the first new roof was in place. This 

 was soon followed by another, and I suppose if 

 they were left undisturbed this would go on 

 through the years to the house restored. All 

 done without one word of protest. What in- 

 structors the ants are ! 



Merry-hearted I have written before concern- 

 ing the flicker and every year I have the truth 

 of the statement reaffirmed. The pair that have 

 located in one of my maple trees are the busiest, 

 merriest creatures that I meet with anywhere. 

 The first gleam of light in the morning kindles 

 the fire of flicker's daily life. I hear him hurry- 

 ing through the lawn trees uttering his loud 



