58 CHARACTER IN FEATHERS. 



sonality produces upon different observers. In 

 matters of this kind every judgment is largely 

 a question of emphasis and proportion ; and, 

 moreover, what we find in our friends depends 

 in great part on what we have in ourselves. 

 This I do not forget ; and therefore I foresee 

 that others will discover in the birds of whom I 

 write many things that I miss, and perhaps will 

 miss some things which I have treated as patent 

 or even conspicuous. It remains only for each 

 to testify what he has seen, and at the end to 

 confess that a soul, even the soul of a bird, is 

 after all a mystery. 



Let our first example, then, be the common 

 black-capped titmouse, or chickadee. He is, par 

 excellence, the bird of the merry heart. There 

 is a notion current, to be sure, that all birds are 

 merry ; but that is one of those second-hand 

 opinions which a man who begins to observe for 

 himself soon finds it necessary to give up. 

 With many birds life is a hard struggle. Ene- 

 mies are numerous, and the food supply is too 

 often scanty. Of some species it is probable 

 that very few die in their beds. But the chick- 

 adee seems to be exempt from all forebodings. 

 His coat is thick, his heart is brave, and, what- 

 ever may happen, something will be found to 

 eat. " Take no thought for the morrow "is his 

 creed, which he accepts, not " for substance of 



