The Audubon Societies 263 



When the year ended, my list had swelled to 100 species, which doubled 

 last year's record. 



The next three years were spent in Hampden and few birds were added to 

 the list. I studied and sketched them at all seasons and formed quite an inti- 

 mate friendship with them. 



In the winter of 1917-18 I got the 'Birds of America,' in three volumes, 

 from the 'Nature Lovers' Library,' and I use this for my main guide. The 

 colored plates by Louis Agassiz Fuertes are the most important part of the 

 work. His plates in Bird-Lore and the 'National Geographic Magazine' have 

 also been a great help. In August, 1918, I got a pair of Reed's nature-study 

 field-glasses, and I always take them to the woods and fields with me. 



The discovery of each particular species was a matter worth remembering, 

 but if it were rare it was doubly so. I can well remember the thrill of pleasure 

 that came with the finding for the first time of some particular bird — the Loon, 

 Black Duck, Wood Duck, Golden-eye, Merganser, Bittern, Great Blue Heron, 

 Little Green Heron and Woodcock seen along the stream on different occasions; 

 the Saw-whel-owl in the pine woods; the Snowy Owl chased by Crows about 

 the autumn woods; the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker found in the burnt 

 woodlands after losing sight of the Owl; the Goshawk in the winter; the Even- 

 ing Grosbeaks seen in the spring of 1916, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

 this summer. 



As I am only fourteen years old now, I may have other opportunities to 

 travel about and study the birds. I hope so. 



MY EXPERIENCES WITH BIRDS 



I am a member of the Audubon Society and I want to enclose some stories 

 of what I have seen. 



The Blue Jay. — I once tied a piece of suet to a tree just outside our dining- 

 room window. 



Nothing came for a week, then one day a Blue Jay saw the suet and came 

 again and again until the suet was gone and then continued to come and would 

 stand on the branch and look for the suet. After each meal he would fly from 

 tree to tree, ruljbing his bill and uttering his shrill screams of delight. 



Experience with a Chipping Sparrow. — Once 1 was at Camp l)i.\. On the 

 border of the Camp I saw a little Chipping Sparrow. When I atlemjited to 

 go near he hopped away a few times, then sat on a stump and let me come very 

 close to him, and give him some food. He jjicked it u]) and llew away. 



Bird Pldyiiidlrs. One day wiiile riding my wheel through the woods. I 

 heard a Catbird and a Cardinal and stopped to gel a good view of them. 

 Much to my surprise I found that both were young and were hopping around 

 in the l)uslu's ha\ing a good time together. They were (|uite tame so I went 

 very close. The Mother Cardinal was near, keeping watch o\er her little one. 



