270 THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



£ The La Rue Holmes Nature Lovers League J 



By George Klingle, Summit, New Jersey 



Explanation — The aims of this League are in many respects the same as those of The Agassiz Association 

 Therefore it has been proposed that the adult inter. sts be represented by "The Guide to Nature" and that the 

 League co-operate, or possibly be affiliated, with The Agassiz Association.— E. F. B. 



A Bird Incident. among" our bird neighbors, would do 



by Edith l. pierson, morristown high well to remember, when felling dead 



school, chapter of the l. ii. trees, or cutting away dead branches, 



nature league. that when such wood is not found in 



It has always been my habit to save its accustomed places, our woodpeck- 



the squash seeds, for the next year's ers move on to new locations, for it 



planting. To do this I placed 'them is to the shafts of the dead trees, in 



out in the sun to dry before putting the forests and about our homes, that 



them away for the winter. the woodpeckers resort when they 



One night, when I went to bring would choose a site for their house- 



the seeds in out of the dampness, I keeping. 



noticed that about half of them were 



gone. The next day I placed out more A League Report, 



of them and the same thing happened. Dear Secretary: 



I was now determined to find out who I have obtained this summer some 

 the thief was and hid near by. Very fine minerals for winter study, and 

 soon a little nuthatch came and begun have built a little palace for the cater- 

 to carry away my seeds. He took pillar world. Two caterpillars have 

 nearly all there were and placed them already built their cocoons, and I am 

 under the bark of an old dead stump. expecting to see many beautiful but- 

 All that season I continued to put terflies and moths next summer, 

 the seeds in the same place and the I wa s able to bring a root of the 

 little fellow became quite tame. The cardinal flower home with me from 

 next winter I examined the stored food the country, and the plant is verily 

 and found that the contents of the flourishing. 



shell had been eaten up, and each one I expect to be able to tell you when 



was full of nice fat worms upon which I come to Summit, some plans for the 



the nuthatch had been feeding. South Orange Chapter No. 3, of the 



All that winter I placed seeds out L. H. Nature League, 



for him, and as soon as his stock of I have just refused the position as 



worms had gone he would store away Class President in order to have time 



new seeds to replace the old ones. for the League-work. 



One day I heard a great commotion Is there anything better than na- 

 and saw a larger woodpecker eating ture in its present conditions, what- 

 the worms stored by the nuthatch, ever the time of year? I just now 

 This did not suit the latter, and so of looked out of the window and "saw," 

 course a light followed. I feared for almost heard the whisper that Jack 

 the life of my little friend so I went Frost is near. The trees are trying to 

 out and separated them. They flew do their final best; the birds are show- 

 to different parts of the tree and fin- ing human powers — to think in their 

 ished the fight in words as strong as southerly journeys; the horn of plenty 

 a bird can use. is yielding its fruits, in order that this 



Ever since that time I have placed may be the best season of the year, 



out the seeds, in the autumn, and the October!! — and yet we shall love the 



nuthatch comes and stores them away fluffy white snowflakes, the budding 



for the winter. and awakening world of the spring, 



Those of us who desire to maintain, and the warm, quiet days of summer, 



or increase the present population filled with the peaceful hum of insects. 



