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than in any other season. They are among the most active insect des- 

 troyers we have, gleaning their food from the bark, branches and leaves 

 of trees, and seldom descending to the ground, though when wood-chopping is 

 going on in the bush the logs, sticks, and chips will all be carefully searched for 

 grubs which have been exposed by the axe. The familiarity displayed by these 

 little creatures at this time is very pleasing. As soon as work begins, and the first 

 few strokes of the axe sound through the bush, they gather round and investigate 

 every piece of bark and decayed wood thrown open, and from each one gather som.e 

 prizes. It is very amusing to watch the little Chickadee when he finds a large grub 

 of one of the borers partly exposed. He pulls and tugs at it until it comes out, 

 and then securely holding it down with his feet he tears it in pieces and devours it. 

 Without the assistance of the chopper it is but seldom that they can get at the 

 larger grubs that bore deeply into the solid wood, as they have neither tLe strength 

 nor proper tools for digging them out; but they have found that when the farmer 

 cuts his cordwood their opportunity for a feast arrives, and so they take advantage 

 of it. As a general rule, however, they scour the bush, orchard, and shrubbery in 

 merry little parties searching for food, from time to time uttering their musical 

 notes, which always have a peculiar '' woodsy " quality about them. Tb.e seeds of 

 the hemlock are occasionally eaten by ihe Chickadee and the Eed-breasted 

 Nuthatch, and the "V\niite-breasted Nuthatch is said to sometimes eat beechnuts and 

 acorns, but I have never found any trace of them. The Tree Creeper eats no 

 vegetable substance whatever. 



This little group of birds is of the greatest value to fruit-growers, as they 

 feed principally on the minute insects and their eggs, which are individually so 

 small that they escape our observation until, having seen the damage done by them, 

 our attention is called to their existence, and then it is too late to enable us to 

 remedy the matter for the season. 



In the winter fruit-growers should endeavour to encourage birds of this 

 class to resort to their orchards, lor they are among the most effective checks upon 

 injurious insects that we have. 



They destroy immense quantities of eggs from which the tent caterpillar, the 

 canker-worm and aphides are produced. The larva and pup^e of the codling moth 

 are also eagerly sought for and devoured. 



When you see these little birds scrambling: about the trunks and branches of 

 your trees, peering sliarply into every crevice of the bark, it is these insects they are 

 looking for, insects and their eggs that at this season are generally so well hidden 

 that only the birds' sharp eyes can detect them. They do, however, find enough 

 of them to supply their wants, and thereby save the trees from much damage the 

 following season. 



The best way to induce the birds to remain in and about an orchard is to 

 hang up among the trees a few bones with some fat on them, or a few lumps of fat 

 tied to the branches here and there will have the desired effect. The birds \vi11 

 soon find them out, and if the supply is kept up will remain in the neighborhood all 

 the season. Feeding on this will not prevent their insect hunting, but will obviate 

 the necessity for their wandering over too much ground, and thev will concentrate 

 all their efforts upon the trees where they are sure of finding food. 



A remarkable example of the benefit that may bo derived from the presence 

 of a flock of Chickadees has been recorded by Mr. E. H. Forbush in a bulletin of 

 the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. 



In a certain orchard in Massachusetts the canker-worm moth had deposited 

 great numbers of eggs upon the trees. Pieces of hone and fat were fastened to the 



