THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION 



383 



most unconcerned manner possible. A Robins in Winter, 



chickadee atempted to snatch a morsel, From all over the country we have 



but vanished immediately when the nut- received letters reporting the abun- 



hatch assumed a threatening attitude, dance of robins (luring the past winter, 



and cried out very ferociously "ya-ya- The presence of these birds seems all 



ya-ya!" After the nuthatch had flown the more remarkable because of the 



away to another part of the woods, 1 extremely cold weather that we have 



had a most interesting experience with had. We referred the matter to .Mr. 



Extended accounts, including clipping from local newspaper and the above photographs, of friendly 

 chickadees were sent by Mrs. Eliza F. Miller, Bethel, Vermont. 



another chickadee. A lump of suet had 

 fallen on the snow, and one of the lit- 

 tle titmice attempted to carry it off to 

 some secret hiding place known only 

 to himself. It proved too heavy, how- 

 ever, and he was forced to drop it. As 

 I stooped to pick up the morsel, he flew 

 down and alighted on the snow nearby ; 

 I remained motionless, holding the suet 

 close to the ground, and soon he gath- 

 ered courage to approach and "take a 

 bite." In less than three minutes he 

 was perching on my fingers and quite 

 unguardedly pecking at the suet." 



Less than two hours altogether (on 

 three different occasions) were devoted 

 directly to the taming. Last Novem- 

 ber I re-established the feeding sta- 

 tions, and again tamed the chickadees. 

 with even less difficulty than before. 

 They became quite devoid of fear, and 

 my observations at such close range 

 were highly interesting and profitable. 

 The photographs here reproduced were 

 obtained last month. 



Frank M. Chapman, Curator of Birds, 

 American Museum of Natural History, 

 and he says that he also has received 

 many reports, but is unable to give any 

 reason for their presence in such large 

 numbers. Has any one a suggestion 

 to make in regard to this? 



Enclosed find check $2 — $1 for re- 

 newal The Guide to Nature, Si for 

 building fund. My only regret is, that 

 I cannot make it $i,ooo. Why will not 

 some of our vastly rich men give all 

 that you need and more? They give 

 millions for objects of no greater 

 worth, and far less usefulness. — W . H. 

 Sabin, Vineland, New Jersey. 



Let me but do my work from day to day 

 In field or forest, at the desk or loom, 

 In roaring market place or tranquil room; 

 Let me but find it in my heart to say, 

 When vagrant wishes beckon me astray, 

 "This is my work; my blessing, not my 



doom. 

 Of all who live, I am the only one by 

 whom 

 This work can best be done in the right 

 way." 



— Henry Van Dyke. 



