294 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



he could take them in his hands, stroking and 

 petting them as one does a tame Canary. 



But they would permit the presence of no one 

 else. In telling the lumbermen of his pets a 

 desire was expressed to see the unusual sight 

 and arrangements were made for feeding the 

 birds at dusk as the men came from work. So 

 the next day he postponed the feeding until a 

 halloo from the forest signaled the approach of 

 the men. As usual his whistle brought the birds 

 about, and in a moment he was covered with 

 them, eagerly clamoring for their delayed supper. 

 When they were well settled at their meal, at 

 his low whistle, the men quietly appeared around 

 the corner of the camp, when instantly with a cry 

 of alarm, the entire flock, Crossbills and *' Chit- 

 a-wits," took wing for the hemlocks and could not 

 be induced to return while the men were in sight. 

 But as soon as the men withdrew, back came the 

 birds and finished their meal without further 

 interruption. Although the experiment was tried 

 again and again during the winter, not once did 

 the birds remain at their feeding after the men 

 came into view. 



All winter he had these pets about him, and 

 much amusement and keen pleasure he derived 

 from their friendliness and companionship. He 

 left in the early spring at the close of the season's 

 operation with a deep sense of regret and a feel- 

 ing of loneliness at leaving his feathered friends. 

 "And," said the old man, after relating the 

 story, '"I was never happier in my life than dur- 

 ing that winter with tJiose dear little creatures 

 for my everyday companions. " One can readily 



