BIRD PARADISE 43 



to be bubbling over with lark fun. When I first 

 saw them about half the company was occupying 

 the branches of a large elm tree, the other mem- 

 bers of the party being on the ground on all sides 

 of the tree. They seemed to be jollying each 

 other, after the manner of men, the jokes flying 

 back and forth thick and fast. Of course I had 

 no way by which I could be sure as to just what 

 they were doing, but to all appearance it seemed 

 to be an occasion of sport pure and simple. I 

 found myself wondering whether I had not lost 

 much of what the birds say and do by not being 

 around early enough in the morning. My inter- 

 view with the larks was just as day was break- 

 ing, about five o'clock in the morning. On the 

 principle that the early bird secures the worm, I 

 had gotten into the fields by moonlight, hoping to 

 secure a fine basket of mushrooms. The growth 

 in the fungus world had not taken place as T an- 

 ticipated, so I improved the occasion by inter- 

 viewing the birds. I cherished the notion that 

 the flock I saw might have been on the wing 

 most of the night and had just dropped down in 

 the old pasture to take breakfast. After a little 

 I noticed they all scattered over the field, each 

 intent upon securing what he could to break the 

 morning fast. 



