. Nestlings of forest and marsh . bird-songswill be heard in our woods, only the shrillscreams of the birds of prey, the caw of thecrow, the shriek of the bluejay, and themelancholy hooting of the owl. iS7 THE BIRD OF MANY NAMES Piercing out as trumpet shrill The flickers challenge breaks From out the oaks which crown a hill That overlooks the lakes ; A long-drawn chattering cry elate, And then from his expectant mate A faint-heard answering cry replies From some far wooded rise. McGaffey. ROWING along the shore very earlyone morning, we passed a meadowfringed with heavy timber. The brokentrun
. Nestlings of forest and marsh . bird-songswill be heard in our woods, only the shrillscreams of the birds of prey, the caw of thecrow, the shriek of the bluejay, and themelancholy hooting of the owl. iS7 THE BIRD OF MANY NAMES Piercing out as trumpet shrill The flickers challenge breaks From out the oaks which crown a hill That overlooks the lakes ; A long-drawn chattering cry elate, And then from his expectant mate A faint-heard answering cry replies From some far wooded rise. McGaffey. ROWING along the shore very earlyone morning, we passed a meadowfringed with heavy timber. The brokentrunk of a solitary giant sycamore stoodnear the waters edge, leafless, almost branch-less, its size alone telling its age and formerglory. As we came in sight of it, a meadowlark sat on top piping merrily, and not twofeet below him, on the side next the lake, aflicker busily excavated his dwelling. Hehad dug out about ten inches, and only histail could be seen in the hole, bobbing vigor-ously as the chips flew. Through the field-iS8. THE BIRD OF MANY NAMES glasses these could be seen falling in was making rapid progress. The meadowlark finished his song and left. When thesilence attracted the attention of the busyminer, he ceased digging and appearedoutside. As he caught sight of us, hisattempts at concealment were apparent nonchalance he pecked dain-tily first on one side of the tree, then theother, a few inches away from the originalexcavation. It was as if he said, You seeI am really not here on any especial business,simply hunting for my breakfast. Heeven sauntered leisurely to the top, andlooked about indifferently, as if nothing inthe world could interest him. And yetonly two minutes before he had been work-ing for dear life at a home in that very laughed aloud over his airs. He lookedat me solemnly, as if amazed at such levity,and I assure you no owl can be more solemnand no catbird more crafty than a days before this I had w
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1902
