BIRD WORLD IN WINTER. 137 



its tiny kernel, while Robins, Bluebirds, and the rest 

 swallow the berry whole when they come to it. 



One little story that Mr. Keyser tells shall end our 

 January visit. It is about a J unco. 



" From a cornfield I witnessed a little scene that 

 filled me with delight. At some distance I perceived 

 a snowbird eating seeds from the raceme of a tall 

 weed, which bent over in a graceful arch beneath its 

 dainty burden. I climbed the fence and crept cau- 

 tiously nearer to get a better view of the little diner- 

 out. What kind of a discovery do you suppose I 

 made '^. I could scarcely believe my eyes. 



" There beneath the weed, hopping about on the 

 snow, were a Tree Sparrow and a Junco, picking up 

 the seeds that their companion above was shaking 

 down. It was such a pretty little comedy that I 

 laughed aloud for pure delight. It seemed for all the 

 world like a boy in an apple tree shaking down the 

 mellow fruit for his playmates, who were gathering it 

 from the ground as it fell. Farther on in the woods 

 I saw a Junco dart up to a weed too small to afford 

 him a comfortable perch, give it a shake which would 

 bring down a quantity of seeds, and then liit below 

 and eat them from the white tablecloth." 



