158 JVays of Wood Folk. 



as if he were scratching aside the hay, 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 

 ahvays getting doubled up in the way. When I 

 thumped suddenly against the side of the barn, he 

 hurled himself like a shot at one of the holes, alight- 

 ing just below it, and stuck there in a way that 

 reminded me of the chewed-paper balls that boys 

 used to throw against the blackboard in school. I 

 could hear plainly the thump of his little feet as he 

 struck. With the same movement, and without paus- 

 ing 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 and doorway 

 in the early morning, before any one is stirring. One 

 spring morning I was awakened by a strange little 

 pattering sound, and, opening my eyes, was astonished 

 to see one of these birds on the sash of the open win- 

 dow 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 show to best advantage the 

 beautiful plumage. He had seen it in flying by, and 



