I was never really sure how good Starbuck's vision was, wondering if inconsistencies in percerption were eyesight related, color related or trickery related. At fifty yards, he could distinguish between a finger made to look like a treat and a real treat (up close, he might pretend the finger was a real treat to get the last laugh). If that treat fell on the floor right in front of him, looking around for it telegraphed he may have found it faster by smell. Or, perhaps it was just a game as he knew I would steal it from him if he didn't pick it up right away. He always got the treat in the end but sometimes with a game of chase first.
As mentioned in the last post, there was a discernable difference in his behavior and movements that would portend he was on to something; getting "birdy" is the technical terminology. Once in while, the getting "birdy" turned into getting "resty," as what he was on to was a good place to take a rest. These were not always readily available as these spots needed several attributes in order to be considered:
- shade
- ample breeze
- cool, damp earth, either exposed or easily reached by digging
- water and treats (givens)
- a view
A view? Usually, it was some place that the ocean (and passing whales) could be seen or a photogenic mountain range or the sunset. As he rested, he would look off to the distance, presumably enjoying the moment of rest and the view as much as I did. Like us, he would drift into a daydream as he looked across the ocean.
Some days, we spent more time being "resty" than "birdy" but no one argued. Some days, that was just fine.
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