Cambridge, Mass.
1906
Dec. 2
(No 3)
of fruitless and somewhat listless thrusts of this kind
the bird suddenly showed evident excitement and
after boring more rapidly than before for several times
in quick succession and also swaying its head from
side to side while its bill was buried in the ground
it drew out a large & very active earth worm which
it held for an instant in the terminal third of its
bill (but not, as I could see clearly, at its tip) and
then quickly swallowed. Immediately after this it resumed
its search in nearly or quite the same spot and at
the third or fourth thrust captured another worm which
was dealt with like the first. Afterwards it did
not have any further success although it continued
boring for some time. I did not once see it stamp
on the ground or listen for the sound of moving
worms. While boring and walking about it kept its
tail closed and carried it a little below the
line of the back. Since I have had it it has
made no sounds of any kind. It is fast becoming
tame and confiding. This afternoon I crouched on
the floor directly by the side of the box and looked
in at the bird, moving my face about within a
foot of it, without causing it any obvious alarm.