much as a hen would have done. If so, his 

 two httle front toes must have made sad work 

 of it, with the two hind ones always getting 

 doubled up in the way. When I thumped a 

 board suddenly, he hurled himself like a shot 

 at one of the holes, lighting just below it. 

 I could hear plainly the thump of his little 

 feet as he struck. With the same movement, 

 and without pausing an instant, he dived 

 through headlong, aided by a spring from his 

 tail, much as a jumping-jack goes over the 

 head of his stick, only much more rapidly. 

 Hardly had he gone before another appeared, 

 to go through the same program. 



Though much shyer than other birds of 

 the farm, he often ventures up close to the 

 house in the early morning, before any one 

 is stirring. One spring morning I was awak- 

 ened by a strange little pattering sound, and, 

 opening my eyes, was astonished to see one 

 of these birds on the sash of the open window, 

 within five feet of my hand. Half closing 

 my eyes, I kept very still and watched. Just 

 in front of him, on the bureau, was a stuffed 

 golden-wing, with wings and tail spread to 



189 



c^l^elloa) of 

 Expedient's 



