176 BIRD PARADISE 



our long missionary journeys in Oklahoma that 

 the golden plover furnished us with most of our 

 food. The two Indian men that were with me 

 tried the scheme of securing a few of the birds. 

 Their success was the smaU return of securing 

 the single bird at a time. In the lesson which I 

 put into their keeping a single discharge of the 

 fowling-piece was the measure of a dozen birds. 

 Most delicious they were, roasted slowly by the 

 camp-fire. I fancy that there is not a voyager in 

 the plover host that has not looked in upon the 

 North Pole and all its surroundings. The flight 

 of the plovers — all the species — is hardly ex- 

 celled in grace and beauty by any other bird. 

 Think of the strength required, in three or four 

 thousand miles of passage, where there is no stop 

 for rest or food ! With such facilities for travel- 

 ing there is no place in the extent of this world 

 that lies beyond their reach. Cooks and Pearys 

 every bird of the entire host ! 



In my long stroll this morning I saw the tracks 

 of mice, skunks, rabbits, foxes and squirrels. In 

 the great ravine I saw where the dogs had fol- 

 lowed Mr. Fox into his quarry den. I heard the 

 callsof crows, bluejays, woodpeckers, chickadees, 



