t'he place especially upon a 'background of junco 
^otes. It had a wild ringing quality which marked 
*t from the other. 
Juncoes sputtered and fought through the woods 
° n either side of me. 
Suddenly a small bird flew to the ground about 
* f 08t away * 1 saw was a red-breasted nuthatch 
during the next three quarters of an hour I 
Ssined my first real sight of the bird’s life. The 
rs recorded at various times meant only a voice 
J an short sight of the bird itself. It was an 
WmS PlaCe f ° r the Mrd - 1 should imagine that it 
sit Ch00se ^ summ0 r home in just such a 
Juation. l'he ground was covered with pine needles 
a logs and was dotted thickly with bush^v hemlocks 
me of which claimed the dignity of tree and the 
° m S ^ic* 1 naturally seem to accompany them, 
and t 6 tird itself seemed absolutely without fear 
n ^ followed within a short distance all the time. 
tru S u eme<i t0 pr0fer l0&s ^ the ground to tree 
iks although occasionally it mounted one to the 
WT 56 ° f fiV ® ° r 3ix feet * Everything which 
^ Ked eatable was picked up and if it was not some 
w, oi f° od was flipped to one side with a quick 
Ihe °v-° f the biU t0 the dis ^ ance of a foot or more. 
*hit J8CtS tried were in eve ry case that I saw- 
< If they were g00d the y were immediately 
If if a int0 a crevice and pounded up and then eaten. 
°r W ~ B ° n the ground it: flew to the nearest tree 
iog fo r the purpose of eating its find. ,I.t kept 
the & continua l sof t ick ic k and once or twice gave- 
yank . It seemed to be a very beauti- 
oirci no t Q handeome one. The reddish of its 
and ^? arts blend0d 5 0 well with the pine needles 
Ojw 1 , 3 grayish back seemed so smooth and glossy. 
c 0u , behind a tree and came up to within a 
lo £'. e T ° f feet ° f i1; as it: 8at on the end of the 
Ev e * ** did nbt seera t° realize my presence at all. 
the f Vdlite °*J 0 ct was pulled from the crevices of 
^ h!f rk and 1 thought to iqycelf that I would hate 
aVe to make a meal after it. 
