84 BIRD PARADISE 



writers classify this and the cliff or bank swallow 

 as one species. As they pass in flight there 

 seems to be no perceptible difference in shape or 

 color. The song is a slight twitter usually given 

 when on the wing. 



I received a curious invitation from my flicker 

 friends last week — at least, so it seemed to me. 

 On Friday morning the town crier of this small 

 city went to and fro in my lawn ti'ees proclaim- 

 ing most vigorously some event of great impor- 

 tance. I went out to the church steps and was 

 hardly more than nicely fixed in my favorite 

 seat when the whole matter was made clear. It 

 was commencement week in the flicker university 

 and the faculty and entire body of students were 

 ready to give the parson special welcome to all 

 the exercises. They did give the welcome and I 

 accepted the greeting with both hands and all 

 my heart. The day was ideal and I soon got the 

 notion that the entire affair was of great moment 

 to all concerned. The whole school of flickers 

 were graduating — each valedictorian of his class. 

 The great maple front of the church, long years 

 in building, was the temple of their lifelong 

 instruction. "What to say and do on the great 



