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curious habitations. As spring approached, a chickadee was 

 seen now and then to enter one of the boxes. The one over 

 the woodshed was inspected frequently, and it is believed that 

 toward spring one or more of the birds passed the night in its 

 shelter. 



When spring opened and most of our little friends retired 

 to the woods, one pair remained behind and made their home 

 in the observation box. Another pair set up housekeeping in 

 a birch stump not far away in the edge of the pine grove. The 

 pair in the box, having abundant nesting material at hand, 

 soon began building. Here was an excellent opportunity for 

 watching the construction of the nest, but the box was not 

 opened or disturbed, for fear that the birds might forsake it. 



All in the house were enjoined to keep away from the box 

 until the birds were seen carrying food to the nest. The box 

 was then opened, and seven young birds were found. From 

 this time on the feeding and growth of the young birds were 

 observed through the glass. Mr. C. A. Reed, the editor of 

 "American Ornithology," became interested in this young 

 family; and on June 10, having been notified that the birds 

 were ready to leave the nest, he came with his camera to photo- 

 graph them. The old birds had now become so accustomed 

 to our presence that they would come and feed the young while 

 people were at the open window within a foot or two of the 

 box. When sitting at the window, one could see plainly the 

 insects held in the beaks of the parent birds. Large insects 

 were brought singly, smaller ones in bunches or masses, 

 one might say almost in mouthfuls. 



The old bird gathered ants, plant lice, spiders, etc., in its 

 bill until that was well filled, when it flew quickly to the box, 

 fed the young, cleaned the nest, and, taking the excrement in 

 its bill, flew away for more food. Sometimes the most greedy 

 youngster got the whole mouthful; at other times the food 

 was divided among the young. The following notes, taken 

 at the nest while the camera was in position, June 10, will show 

 how little the birds were disturbed by our presence, and how 

 often they came with food that forenoon. The box was opened 

 and the camera set up at 9.50 o'clock. At 9.52, the female 

 chickadee came with a large, dark caterpillar. At 9.54, the 



