122 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 
tumblers and rope-dancers into numberless positions, to- 
gether'with the peculiar chatter of each, are altogether very 
amusing, conveying the idea of hungry diligence, bustle, 
and activity.” ‘ 
Every one knows the black-capped titmouse—our jolly 
little chickadee, and his jolly little chant: 
“ Ohick-chickadeedee! Saucy note, 
Out of sound heart and merry throat, 
As if it said: ‘Good-day, good sir! 
Fine afternoon, old passenger ! 
Happy to meet you in these places, 
ee) 
Where January brings few faces. 
He is the hero of the woods; there are courage and good- 
nature enough in that compact little body, which you may 
hide in your fist, to supply a whole groveful of May song- 
sters. He has the Spartan virtue of an eagle, the cheerful- 
ness of the thrushes, the nimbleness of the sparrow, the 
endurance of the sea-birds, condensed into his tiny frame, 
and there have been added a “ peartness” and ingenuity all 
his own. His curiosity is immense, and his audacity equal 
to it; I have even had one alight upon the barrel of the 
gun over my shoulder as I sat quietly under his tree. The 
chickadees come to us with the first frost; and keen eyes 
may discover them all the year round in the Catskills, or 
oe 
