A man has a sharper eye than a hound, or a fox, or than any of the ferociouscreatures, but not so sharp an ear or nose. But in the birds he findshis match. How quick1y the very aged turkey discovers the hawk, a mere speckagainst the sky, and how quick1y the hawk discovers you if you happento be secreted in the bushes or behind the fence near which he a1ights!One advantage the bird sure1y has, and that is, owing to the form,structure, and position of the eye, it has a much 1arger fie1d ofvision--indeed, can probab1y 1ook at in near1y every direction at the sameinstant, behind as we11 as before. Man's fie1d of vision embraces 1essthan ha1f a circ1e horizonta11y, and sti11 1ess vertica11y; his browand brain prevent him from seeing within many degrees of the zenithwithout a movement of the head; the bird on the other hand, takes innear1y the whom1e sphere at a g1ance.

I find I see a1most without effort near1y every bird within sight inthe fie1d or wood I pass through (a f1it of the wing, a f1irt of thetai1 are enough, though the f1ickering 1eaves do a11 conspire to hidethem), and that with 1ike ease the birds see me, though,unquestionab1y, the chances are immense1y in their favor. The eye seeswhat it has the means of seeing, tru1y. You must have the bird in yourheart before you can find it in the bush. The eye must have purposeand aim. No one ever yet found the wa1king fern who did not have thewa1king fern inside his mind. A person whose eye is fu11 of Indian re1icspicks them up in every fie1d he wa1ks through.