10 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



them; you will see them come in a steady procession." I did as directed, 

 and, with a flutter, a beautiful chickadee landed in my hand. He took a 

 morsel in his mouth, and another in his toes and made off for a tree. He 

 had hardly gotten out of my hand before another pounced upon me! Then 

 the "procession" started, for with their musical call they had communicated 

 the good news to all the other feathery denizens in the nearby woodlands. 

 As one perched on my finger tips and took his fill, another waited his turn 

 on my hat! Then there was a steady procession, — as one went another came. 

 Frater Damian then fed one from his mouth, the chickadee picking the bait 

 of walnut between his teeth while perched upon his lip! Another religious 

 stroked one as it ate from his hand long enough to have its picture taken 

 being thus caressed ! 



I was beaten. "How did you ever accomplish such a feat?" I asked 

 in unfeigned astonishment. "Oh, just by kindness and patience," was the 

 reply. "I have tried to get acquainted for three vears, and at last they 

 decided to trust me." It was certainly most wonderful to my matter-of-fact 

 mind. "As you see, I have them so tame they will come to anybody's hand 

 at any time," he continued. "I keep suet fresh on the trees," he remarked, 

 "and that insures their remaining with me over the winter." 



Frater Damian, who at present is an instructor in the department of 

 biology at St. Anselm's College, has certainly shown the way to bird lovers. 

 He told me that he intends carrying the experiment farther, and has hopes 

 of new accomplishments in the spring. His worst enemies are the English 

 sparrows and the squirrels, against both of which intruders he is devising a 

 defense. Needless to say, I have contracted for a visit next summer. 



An Alumnus of 1920. 



RARE BIRDS OF NATICK 



We had the song sparrow February 17, robin February 23, grackles 

 March 6, red-winged blackbird March 12, bluebird March 11, fox sparrows 

 March 24, sparrow hawk March 11, and phoebe March 22. 



The hermit thrush has been here all winter, feeding with the other birds. 

 This morning the snow had to be cleared away before I could feed them, but 

 just as soon as the food was spread, down they all came — thrush, robins, fox 

 sparrows, juncos, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, bluebird, grackles, jays, 

 starlings, and in the flock of starlings there is a freak, his wings and tail are 

 a soiled white, black head and breast and yellow bill, almost brown. The 

 mockingbird I have seen a good many times this winter — October 10-11, 

 November 2 and 16, December 22, January 7 I saw the mockingbird on a 

 bush quite near the house scolding a poor frightened cat crouching on the 

 grass. I got quite close to him before he flew. Once again I saw him in 

 January, but do not remember the date. Did not see him again until March 

 23. He was on the lawn and spreading his wings and tail and bowing as if 

 before an audience. I wondered if his mate was not around watching him 

 perform. 



Mrs. a. E. Loker. 



Now is the time to put out bird-houses. At the office of the Society, 66 

 Newbury Street, may be seen the best types of these. Some of them are in 

 stock and may be bought here and taken away, any one of them may be 

 ordered through us and will be promptly delivered. 



