Travels in a Tree-top 17 



all around it, and then put out one foot and 

 touch it here and there. If we can judge from 

 the bird's aftions, the question. What is it, 

 anyway ? is running through its mind. I once 

 played a trick upon a splendid black hawk that 

 had been mousing over the fields for half the 

 winter. It often perched upon a stack of 

 straw instead of the lone hickory near by. 

 Early one morning I placed a plump meadow- 

 mouse on the very top of the stack, to which 

 I had attached a dozen long strands of bright- 

 red woollen yarn and a bladder that I had in- 

 flated. This was secured to the mouse by a 

 silk cord, and all were so concealed by the 

 snow and straw that the hawk noticed the 

 mouse only. The bird was suspicious at first : 

 it was too unusual for a mouse not to move 

 when a hawk hovered above it. Then the 

 bird alighted on the stack and walked about 

 the mouse, pecking at it once, but not touch- 

 ing it. Then putting out one foot, he seized 

 it with a firm grip, the talons passing through 

 the carcass, and at the same time spread his 

 wings and moved slowly towards the lone 

 hickory that towered near by. I was near 

 enough to see every movement. It was evi- 

 dent that the hawk did not look down at first. 



