BIRD PARADISE 99 



from my study window and I had an excellent 

 opportunity of viewing the entire process at close 

 range. The long bill was thrust down into the 

 ground and kept in constant motion. I soon 

 saw that he depended upon the sense of touch in 

 securing his food. Evidently any resident of the 

 earth mansion that he came into contact with 

 furnished one of the viands of the feast. While 

 he was busy at his meal, one of the robins flew 

 full tilt against him, but without diverting 

 flicker's attention in the slightest degree from the 

 special object he had in view. I doubt if the at- 

 tacks of other birds have any effect on flicker's 

 course. The even tenor of his way is about 

 where he keeps, but what may happen. I never 

 see him long at a time without his showing that 

 he has a real and large sense of humor. At 

 least, so his way of doing seems to me. I think 

 he knows that he is always welcome to my small 

 domain. 



Last evening I was quite sure I heard the spring 

 note of one of the early birds among the frogs. 

 It came up from the marsh beyond the cemetery, 

 and was most decidedly a genuine call of the 

 season. What a curious way the frogs have of 

 launching the boat in which they sail the sea of 



