^72 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:9— Dec, 1917 



An early riser in the family said that Fluffy's manner of comino^ 

 down from her branch in the morning, alwa3^s suggested to her 

 the familiar picture of beautiful Queen Louise descending her 

 palace stairs. 



Fluffy's determination to continue her baths when the weather 

 was too cold for open air bathing, and her strength seemed insuffi- 

 cient for the ordeal, caused us much anxiety. 



Early one bitterly cold morning, when the bird's drinking 

 pan had been refilled with slightly warmed water to prevent its 

 immediate freezing, she took such a thorough bath, that she 

 looked half drowned to the horrified friends who found her clinging 

 to a A'ine, dripping wet, seemingly exhausted, and in momentary 

 danger of freezing to death. In despair we stood at the window, 

 wondering how we could rescue her. At that critical moment 

 came Jimmy, equally wet from his bath, and with characteristic 

 energy and determination he compelled Fluffy to join him in a 

 game of "tag" until both birds were thoroughly dry. 



Our Chickadees were not forgotten at Christmas time. Two 

 bird-loving friends prepared one of their little balsam trees which 

 the}' had brought heme with them from a summer vacation in 

 the Adirondacks, for our pets. It was loaded with e\'ery imagin- 

 able dainty, dear to the heart of a chickadee. When the little 

 tree was carefully inipacked, and placed on the feeding table, 

 close to the dining room window, we all watched breathlessly 

 to see how it would be received. 



In a few moments Jimmy arrived. He began at the little 

 platform at the base of the tree, and concluded his approving 

 inspection on the topmost branch. With scarcely more than the 

 window between their table and ours, we ate our Christmas 

 dinner together. The Christmas tree became a favorite resort 

 of the Chickadees, and they used it regularly until the last needles 

 fell in the spring sunshine. 



There were days, during the winter, when Sammy and Jimmy 

 were only occasional visitors at the feeding table, but Fluft'v 

 stayed contentedly at home. When Jimmy was with us, he 

 seemed to think that all bird comforts and con\'eniences belonged 

 to him. Fluffy meekh' acquiesced, and Sammy accepted the 

 trying situation with stoical resignation. 



Only once, when Jimmy had been away for some time, and had 

 returned imexpectedly, did Fluffy refuse to withdraw at his 



