The Curious Book of Birds

ONG, long ago, at the beginning of things, they say that the Lord made the world smoothand round like an apple. There were no hills nor mountains: nor were there any hollows or valleys tohold the seas and rivers, fountains and pools, which the world of men would need. It must, indeed, have been a stupid and ugly earth in those days, with no chance for swimming or sailing, rowing orfishing. But as yet there was no one to think anything about it, no one who would long to swim, sail, row, and fish. For this was long before men were created. The Lord looked about Him at the flocks of newly made birds, who were preening their wings andwondering at their own bright feathers, and said to Himself, -"I will make these pretty creatures useful, from the very beginning, so that in after time men shalllove them dearly. Come, my birds," He cried, "come hither to me, and with the beaks which I havegiven you hollow me out here, and here, and here, basins for the lakes and pools which I intend to fillwith water for men and for you, their friends. Come, little brothers, busy yourselves as you wouldwish to be happy hereafter."Then there was a twittering and fluttering as the good birds set to work with a will, singing happilyover the work which their dear Lord had given them to do. They pecked and they pecked with theirsharp little bills; they scratched and they scratched with their sharp little claws, till in the properplaces they had hollowed out great basins and valleys and long river beds, and little holes in theground. Then the Lord sent great rains upon the earth until the hollows which the birds had made were filledwith water, and so became rivers and lakes, little brooks and fountains, just as we see them to-day. Now it was a beautiful, beautiful world, and the good birds sang happily and rejoiced in the workwhich they had helped, and in the sparkling water which was sweet to their taste. All were happy except one. The Woodpecker had taken no part with the other busy birds. She was alazy, disobedient creature, and when she heard the Lord's commands she had only said, "Tut tut!"and sat still on the branch where she had perched, preening her pretty feathers and admiring hersilver stockings. "You can toil if you want to," she said to the other birds who wondered at her, "butI shall do no such dirty work. My clothes are too fine."Now when the world was quite finished and the beautiful water sparkled and glinted here and there, cool and refreshing, the Lord called the birds to Him and thanked them for their help, praising themfor their industry and zeal. But to the Woodpecker He said, -"As for you, O Woodpecker, I observe that your feathers are unruffled by work and that there is nospot of soil upon your beak and claws. How did you manage to keep so neat?"The Woodpecker looked sulky and stood upon one