94 BIED NOTES 



There is a quite wonderful difference in the 

 character of individual birds even of the same 

 kind. The large-headed birds certainly seem to 

 me the most intelligent. The little cole tit, for 

 instance, seems more than half head, and it is 

 curious to see how its quickness and ingenuity 

 serve it in the place of size and strength. One 

 little thing I generally find waiting here in the 

 morning for its bacon. It flies towards the 

 window and flutters a greeting in my face, but 

 then looks about for the robin, knowing well that 

 I always wait till he is there, and then open the 

 window and feed him first. 



I had a strange experience one frosty night 

 lately. I was just going off to sleep when there 

 came a lovely note from the window soft and 

 penetrating and single. I started up and listened, 

 quite bewildered. After a pause it came again, 

 and this time not single but combined with others 

 that left no doubt that it was an owl sitting on 

 the sill. But it was the mellowest, downiest song 

 ever heard. It came again and again, and I was 

 quite sorry when it left. I heard it again further 

 off, and then it was more owlish. I suppose it 

 softened its note when so near the house out of 

 precaution lest it should wake the inmates. 



