OCTOBER. 257 



in number. I do not remember ever being struck by one, 

 although to lie under the tree, face upward, and watch 

 the fluttering leaves, is a favorite pastime. It is the sharp 

 clatter upon the heaped up leaves, or dull thud as they 

 strike the yielding moss, that gives a contrary impression ; 

 and generally, although so often forewarned, I look to see 

 the ground covered ; when, in fact, sharp eyes are needed 

 to find the few that fell. 



It may not have occurred to ramblers generally, but to 

 lie upon one's back and study a tree-top, and particularly 

 an old oak while in this position, has many advantages. 

 If not so markedly so in October as in June, still the 

 average tree-top is a busy place, though you might not 

 expect it, judged by the ordinary methods of observation. 

 If you simply stand beneath the branches of a tree or 

 climb into them, you are too apt to be looked upon as an 

 intruder. If you lie down and watch the play — often a 

 tragedy — with a good glass, you will certainly be rewarded ; 

 and, not least of all, you can take your departure without 

 some one or more of your muscles being painful from too 

 long use. If the tree-top life deigns to consider you at all 

 when you are flat upon your back, it will count you merely 

 as a harmless freak of Nature. 



Often have I been fairly startled by the boldness of 

 migrating warblers that came to the lowermost twigs and 

 then scanned me closely as though I too might prove good 

 feeding-ground. I have expected, more than once, that 

 the birds would alight upon me, but as yet they have only 

 come very near to doing so. 



I have often been asked which of our wild birds is the 

 tamest. All seem tame enough to me, but the two which 

 have appeared the most indifEerent to my presence are the 

 brown tree-creeper and the black and white tree-creeping 

 warbler. Only recently, while gathering acorns under 

 the big pin-oaks, I had them come within reach of my 

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