Winter Feeding 9 



fluttered within a few inches of the outstretched hand several times, but did 

 not quite dare accept me on so short acquaintance. Chickadees, when fed at a 

 window, get into the habit of searching other windows for food and, if one 

 happens to be open, they are sure to fly in, and will injure themselves by flying 

 against the mndow-glass, or they will even fly into neighbors' houses. One 

 of my Chickadees was killed during my absence by the well-meaning but 

 awkward efforts of a young relative. To release a bird, pull down every shade 

 quickly, throw up one window, and lift the shade up as far as the window 

 opening, and the bird will make his way out without injury. Birds should not 

 be fed at windows at all, but entirely out-of-doors. 



A BIRD IN THE HAND 



Another Chickadee lit on the pipe of a man walking on the railroad nearly 

 a mile away. The man believing that he was about to have his eyes pecked 

 out by some freak bird, made several passes at the Chickadee before his com- 

 panion, who knew of my birds, could enlighten him. 



The writer does not believe in the use of the feeding-house having glass 

 sides. If a feeding-table is protected from snow and rain, that is sufficient. 

 Finally, the question of making pets of birds should be looked at frcni all 

 angles, and the interests of the birds served in each case, as best we may. 



The philosophy of California John, in 'The Cabin,' is delightful. On being 

 urged to tame a certain wild fawn he frequently met, he observed: "Oh, he'd 

 gentle all right, but, 'Ma'am, I don't believe in gentling no wild critter what- 

 ever that I can't take care of. It makes it easy for the first fellow with a gun 



