CHICKADEES 



A BIRD WITHOUT FEAR 



{Fig, 32) 



F we should keep a guest-book and 

 write in it the names of all our 

 bird visitors, "Chickadee," I ani 

 sure, would be entered on nearly 

 every page. Of all our birds he is 

 the most friendly. Fearlessly he 

 comes so near us that we can see his bright little 

 black eyes shine, and then introduces himself by 

 calling his name so clearly that no one can fail to 

 understand him. It is just as though he said : "How 

 do you do? / am Chickadee-dee-dee." No one can 

 refuse to extend the hand of friendship to so de- 

 lightful a caller. Often he will honor us by accept- 

 ing it as a perch, which, I suppose, is as near as a 

 bird can come to shaking hands. 



Certainly no handshake ever arouses within us 

 more cordial, kindly feelings than does the grip of 

 Chickadee's little claws on our finger. We are so 



big and he is such a little fellow that when he ac- 



24 



