The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31

looked wonderfully as though 1t were done
with a tiny ak But what was the fellow
making 1t for2 No woodpecker in his
senses would dream of building nest in
such place. Not two feet from the ground
and close upon a well-worn trail! More
over, there were no less than nine COM
pleted holes. all in q row, above this one
which he had just begun, and from eight
inches to two or three feet apart John
Burroughs tells of an energetic wood
pecker of his acquaintance who having
made his nest and established his mate
thereon, amused himself while she sat
1pon the eggs, by boring dozen or more
holes through bit of pine board. My
own observations of this bird have led
ms to the belief that this incessant woods
mans trick of his is his form of recreation
by which he seeks relaxation from the
serious business of being bird. Thus
Mr.. Gladstone recreates his mind from
the cares of state. Why should not the
woodpecker?
The ground-squirrel has a peculiarly
solemn idea of fun. l have seen four or
five sally forth together, mount different
stones and stand erect and motionless.
their queer little arms extended. They
will remain thus by the hour, and, a near
as | have been able to Judge, watching
them at close range through the field
glass, without moving whisker, yet
wearing all the while the funniest express
sion of demure qualification over their
performance. They have other sports,
and. like the juncos, indulge in apparently
interminable games of tag among the
stones and hillocks, but this whimsy for
posturing seems to be their favorite pas
time, as playing at church is fond amuse-
ment with some children. Young lambs
have regular games which they conduct
with great precision. They are particu-
larly fond of playing game that would
be dear to the heart of any well-regulated
boy. One sturdy fellow will take posses
sion of little hillock or rocky eminence
in the field, and to all appearances, chal-
lenge his fellows to dispossess him. The
challenge never goes without takers, and
usually half a dozen or more set out to
storm the fort, which the champion de-
tends with great valor. Sometimes he
makes a very strong defense, and holds
his position for long time against great
odds, but sooner or later he is forced back,
and whoever gains the top has to main
tain it against other corners. There is
always great shaking of tails and much
kicking up of heels in this mimic warfare,
which attests to its entire good nature,
and the spectacle is both interesting and
funny.
There are no quainter or more fun flowing
creatures in the world than young pigs and
none fonder of play than horses, old or
young. Lacking their own kind to play with
they will enter into the games of human
companions almost as freely and quite as
cleverly as dogs do. have seen a horse
play at hide and-seek with group OF
children, and saw, recently, mischievous
colt keep a couple of boys in tree for
nearly an hour, making feints at their
dangling legs and kicking up its heels In
manifest glee. When, at last, the bows
defied their captor and came down, the
colt simply trotted about them as one
who would say: "Why didn't. you do
that before?"
A few weeks ago I saw grown cat. a
huge Maltese, having a sort OF hulking
schoolboy fun at the expense Of kitten.
The kit was very small, but every bit there
was Of him was mad. Back, head and
tail were up, and he was retreating, eyes
to the front, and with a very creditabe