"Seems to me these husks are unusually thick," mutteblack Blacky, ashe tore at them with his stout bill. "Don't remember ever havingseen them as thick as these. Wonder if it just happens to be so onthis ear."

Then, as a sudden thought popped into his yellow head, he left thatear and went to another. The husks of this were as thick as those onthe first. He flew to another shock and found the husks there justthe same. He tried a third shock with the same result.