AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



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my home for food. They were usually seen together and I soon learn- 

 ed that I could approach very near to them. They seemed to be more 

 confiding in me each day and would come and alight upon the veranda 

 posts and window frames. I fastened some small sun flowers to the 

 posts of the veranda until they became accustomed to coming there 

 frequently for food. They soon showed no fear and would alight very 

 near me. One morning as I was bringing them their usual supply of 

 seeds one of them met me and wiih apparently no fear or hesitation 

 alighted upon my hand, took a seed and flew away. I remained as 

 quiet as possible and he came to my hand several times for seeds. It 

 was interesting to watch him perch upon my finger, snatch a seed from 

 my hand and fly to a branch near by where he would hold it beneath 

 his toes and hammer it with his little bill, Blue Jay fashion, until he 

 could get the meat. I soon made arrangements for photographing 

 these birds. When the necessary arrangements had been made I re- 

 moved the sun flower seeds from the places in which they had been 

 accustomed to find them and seated myself near by holding some of 

 the seeds in my hand. At first they flew around me apparently some- 

 what disappointed from finding the seeds removed. Finally one came 

 quite near to me and soon alighted upon my cap. He soon left my 



