66 BIRD PARADISE 



the uproar was about or whether the combatants 

 were really arranged on two distinct sides. At 

 times two birds would contend vigorously, the 

 others looking on quietly or running nervously 

 about, then the entire company would rush to- 

 gether screaming loudly and striking most vigor- 

 ously with bills and wings. They rolled them- 

 selves into a ball of feathers so tightly packed 

 that they seemed one solid mass. For several 

 minutes the battle went on, no one apparently 

 hurt and nothing really gained by any of the 

 contestants. Finally a truce was agreed upon. 

 But the bone of contention, what was it? I could 

 not uncover it and I doubt if the birds knew what 

 it was. It was a case of the army marching up 

 the hill and down again. No one hurt. 



The greater surprise that I received, on the 

 occasion was the perfect command the students 

 had over that in which they had known no real 

 experience. "When called to tell what they knew, 

 each one made an almost perfect success of the 

 effort. " Flicker on the Wing " was the subject 

 of all the orations of the day. Alpha responded 

 to his name, with light step and an apparent 

 confidence in himself that fully betokened real 



