WOOD NOTES AND NEST HUNTING, I3I 



close to such places. Food may be more abundant, 

 or they may feel a certain sense of security, for 

 however discreet they may appear, when they see 

 you, I imagine that half of this shyness may be 

 assumed, and that they are inclined to your society, 

 if you are not over-curious and too inquisitive. 

 How often these creatures play " peep-o " with you 

 behind a screen of leaves ! 



All birds seem to understand each other's alarm- 

 notes, although they may belong to a different 

 genus, and there is something that causes them 

 to congregate from all quarters whenever it is 

 sounded; for birds, like the higher bipeds, are of 

 an inquiring turn of mind, and the same motive 

 prompts them, I believe, to gather at any unusual 

 .occurrence in their precincts, which collects a 

 crowd at a fire, or any other excitement in the 

 streets of a city. 



At such times you realize the number and 

 variety of birds that, a moment before, were hid- 

 den and silent all around you. Here a female 

 oriole, startled by the close proximity of a meadow- 

 mouse, that like herself has come down to the 

 stream to drink, flies up scolding terribly at the 

 spectacle, and instantly the other birds gather 

 around to inquire the reason of this consternation. 



