6 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



conversational or controversial notes, their gray heads readily distin- 

 guishing them from the rest of the corvine tribe. 



The nuthatch, though like ours in appearance and behavior, differs 

 materially in voice, having varied loud, clear calls some of which suggest 

 the tufted titmouse. The song thrush or mavis, recalls our brown 

 thrasher, but is far superior to that bird musically. I have heard from it 

 songs that were nearly identical with cardinal and Carolina wren phrases. 



These are some of the birds with which I have met and which 

 have particularly impressed me. I had much opportunity to study them 

 last spring. Before leaving them, however, I should mention the chaf- 

 finch, which may be seen feeding in the outer streets of Paris and other 

 cities, looking like picturesquely clothed and very well-behaved English 

 sparrows. The song is attractive as being one of the earliest heard in 

 the spring, but has little intrinsic beauty. Sometimes it strongly recalls 

 our house wren. Many times it closes with an upward-rising interroga- 

 tory inflection like that of the western house finch. It, the blackbirds, 

 and the large and handsome wood pigeons are very frequently encoun- 

 tered in the parks and avenues of Paris. 



A word more in closing. In the pension where I am installed is a 

 large, jocular elderly Frenchman with a halo of iron-gray hair, who is 

 very fond of giving sly, good-natured digs. Yesterday he threw this 

 challenge to me: — 



"France is God's own country; God never visits the United States." 



I took up the gauntlet and replied, "God knows he can trust America 

 alone." 



As an American you should applaud this retort, which, by the way, 

 was well applauded by the French present. 



Here is a long letter. I hope you will find it interesting enough to 

 justify the demands on your time in reading it. 



Faithfully yours, 



Henry Oldys, 



Lieutenant, American Red Cross. 



A SQUIRREL FAMILY MOVES 



It is not always necessary to go far afield in order to see strange 

 and unusual sights. We had an illustration of that fact last summer. 



One Sunday afternoon we were sitting on our piazza in Cambridge. 

 A member of the group suddenly remarked, "Do look at that squirrel 

 coming up the drive. I believe it has a young one in its mouth." Sure 

 enough; a gray squirrel came running past the piazza holding in its 

 mouth a little fuzzy ball. Mother Squirrel paid no attention to us what- 

 ever but went up a tall elm near us and disappeared in the topmost 

 branches. In a moment she came down alone, ran down the driveway 

 and across the street and up into an elm tree over there. Soon she ap- 

 peared again, holding a very large furry baby by her mouth. It was 

 evidently a heavy burden, for, after carrying it up into our elm, she 

 stopped and rested when half way back to our gate. She lay down flat 

 on her stomach with her paws outstretched for about two minutes. 

 Then up she jumped and soon a third little one was being brought up 

 our drive. 



