206 THE CLERK OF THE WOODS 



My own principal enjoyment of the busi- 

 ness, at present, is connected with a new toy, 

 if I may call it so : a small, loosely knit, or 

 crocheted, bag made of knitting-cotton, I 

 think I was told sent to me by a corre- 

 spondent in Vermont. Into this, following 

 the donor's instructions, I have put nutmeats 

 and hung it out of a window of my working- 

 room, throwing a cord over the top of the 

 upper sash, and allowing the bag to dangle 

 against the pane. 



At first I broke the nuts into small pieces, 

 but I soon learned better than that. Now I 

 divide the filbert once, and for the most part 

 the birds (chickadees only, thus far) have to 

 stay on the bag and eat, instead of pulling 

 out the pieces whole and making off with 

 them. The sight is a pretty one as good 

 as a play. I am careful not to fill the bag, 

 and the feeder is compelled to hang bottom 

 side up under it, and strike upward. The 

 position is graceful and not in the least in- 

 convenient, and possesses, moreover, a great 

 economical advantage : the crumbs, some of 

 which are of necessity spilled, drop on the 

 eater's breast, instead of to the ground. I 



