In Winter-Quarters. 309 



people's minds. s A bird and a bird's nest always 

 go together. This is true, too, of midwinter, and 

 a bird's nest without bird babies is well worth 

 consideration. Not all our birds huddle up in 

 the bushes as the sun goes down, and trust to the 

 little shelter of scantily-leaved twigs. The winter 

 wren, I know, has the same sleeping-place day 

 after day, and this I have seen it fit up until 

 storm-defying. The titmice in December will 

 build nests that they soon abandon, as if they 

 knew a storm was coming up and they proposed 

 to keep dry while it raged. Flying squirrels find 

 themselves with strange bedfellows occasionally; 

 and how often have I found birds sheltering in the 

 hay-mow ! Birds that winter with us have need 

 of all their wit. The struggle for existence is not 

 lessened because no longer burdened with the care 

 of young. There is less available food, and death- 

 dealing storms to be defied. But when these have 

 passed, under the clear skies, my happy white- 

 throats and all their companions are blithe as ever. 

 But who yet has kept track of them from October 

 to May and knows of their coming and going and 

 doings of each day while in winter-quarters ? 



