WINTER FROLICS. 43 
dwelling chiefly in the eastern part of the woodland 
not far from a farm-house, and the other occupying 
the western part. Sometimes, too, another com- 
munity was found in the partly cleared section at 
the northern extremity of one arm of the timber 
belt. These several groups reminded one of the 
nomadic tribes of Oriental countries, who rove 
from one locality to another within certain loosely 
defined boundaries. ‘True, it is merely a matter 
of speculation ; but I have often wondered if feuds 
and jealousies ever arise among these various 
feathered tribes, as is so conspicuously the case in 
the human world. I doubt it very much, for my 
woodland birds dwell together in comparative 
harmony, and are not half so quarrelsome and 
envious as many communities of men and women. 
Bird nature is evidently not so depraved as human 
nature. Perhaps, as the birds had no direct hand 
in the first transgression, the curse did not fall so 
blightingly upon them. 
My western bird colony were somewhat erratic 
in their movements. During December and the 
first week in January I found them almost invari- 
ably in a secluded part of the woods about half-way 
between the northern and southern extremities ; 
but when, about the middle or possibly the twen- 
tieth of January, I visited the haunt, not a bird of 
any description could be found. Had all of them 
gone to other climes? I felt a pang as the thought 
came. But there was no occasion for solicitude. 
Near the southern terminus of the woods, although 
