Travels in a Tree-top ii 



beyond than at our feet, but we never believe 

 it. It is as natural to ask of the distant as 

 of the future. They are closely akin. Here 

 in the tree-top my wants were supplied. I 

 was only in the least important sense cribbed, 

 cabined, and confined. 



Wild life, as we call it, is very discrimi- 

 nating, and that part of it which notices him 

 at all looks upon man as a land animal ; one 

 that gropes about the ground, and awkwardly 

 at that, often stumbling and ever making more 

 noise than his progress calls for ; but when 

 perched in a tree, as an arboreal creature, he 

 is to be studied anew. So, at least, thought 

 the crows that very soon discovered my lofty 

 quarters. How they chattered and scolded ! 

 They dashed near, as if with their ebon wings 

 to cast a spell upon me, and, craning their glossy 

 necks, spoke words of warning. My indif- 

 ference was exasperating at first, and then, as 

 I did not move, they concluded I was asleep, 

 dead, or a dummy, like those in the corn- 

 fields. The loud expostulations gave place 

 to subdued chatterings, and they were about 

 to leave without further investigation, when, 

 by the pressure of my foot, I snapped a dead 

 twig. I will not attempt description. Per- 



