wenger] AN OVENBUILDER 159 



Teacher! Teacher!" gaining in rapidity and crescendo as the call 

 advances an indefinite number of times. Someone has interpreted 

 it as "Teach us!" and still another as "I see! I see!" 



Whichever words you may choose to substitute, of this I am 

 certain, — having once heard the call you will never confuse it with 

 that of any other bird. Personally, I like to think of all three ver- 

 sions, — the cry of "Teacher! Teacher!" being a persistent demand 

 for some one to point out the path of duty, that of "Teach us! 

 Teach us!" a pleading for the knowledge necessary to follow that 

 path, and the " I see!" I see! designating that the way is clear and 

 the path will be followed. 



Consider the clothes worn, the home that is built, the markings 

 of the eggs, the rearing of the young, the food gathered, and you 

 will surely see that the prayer for guidance has not been unanswered. 



You are now curious to see the author of these persistent strains. 

 Again patience is necessary. Quietly moving in the direction 

 from which the last call has come, you may find, by looking sharply, 

 a bird about half as large as a robin, or a shade smaller than the 

 English Sparrow, walking up and down a limb, and stopping now 

 and then to throw back his golden-crowned head to repeat his 

 demand. You will, of course, see the dark streaks on the white of 

 his breast and sides, and the:flesh color of his legs. It would take a 

 very sharp eye to catch a glimpse of the yellow tinge to the under 

 wing coverts, as he flies from his perch to the ground. There, as he 

 walks daintily among the leaves, bobbing his head in a peculiar 

 fashion, and stopping now and then to scratch away the leaves to 

 find a hidden larva, an insect, or perhaps an earthworm, you will 

 have a good opportunity to study, the characteristic colorings of 

 the upper portions of his body. The uniform olive green of his 

 back, the dull orange or golden crown extending in a broad stripe 

 over his head and bordered on each side by a narrow black stripe 

 which reaches backward from the brown bill, all blend so well with 

 his surroundings that one must watch closely or he will seem to 

 melt from sight. So we see that in obedience to the instructions 

 received from the "Teacher" upon whom he calls so often, this 

 little bird that Burroughs describes as "by far the prettiest pedes- 

 trian in the woods," has donned a suit of modest blending colors to 

 afford himself protection in his environment. 



He seems not to object to your quiet watchings, but goes about 

 his search in leisurely fashion. As you watch, you may question, 



