A LINE A DA Y 



they have returned to the stone bench to carry off a whole peanut 

 each time. Occasionally the nuthatch rests from his labors and 

 permits himself a little needed refreshment. He carries his nut in 

 his bill to the heavy bark of a ne'^nboring oak where he fits it in 

 tightly, then strikes it smartly with his bill until he can get at the 

 kernel. If pecans or peanuts are not available, he will eat corn, or 

 even crackers; but he loves the suet hung against the tree, close by 

 the terrace. So does the hairy woodpecker, who awaits his turn 

 in most gallant fashion; but not so the haughty blue-jay. With a 

 caw of warning, he darts at the dainty morsel, whatever it may be, 

 and woe unto the creature who gets in his way! He sweeps down 

 to the squirrel's brass jar, cocks his head on one side, flirts out one 

 peanut after another until he finds one to his taste, hastily swallows 

 it whole, snatches another, and is off to the garden to bury it. 

 Generally his mate follows, selecting her food for present emergen- 

 cies first, and eating it on the tree close by, before she assists in the 

 storing process. The pair carry away easily fifty nuts in a half- 

 hour. We do not see the blue- jay in the summer; indeed, we do 

 not encourage his settling near; but in winter we cannot begrudge 

 him his share of our dainties. There is enough for all. He is 

 such a splendid-looking creature, and I actually like his "swing- 

 ing-gate" call. 



Oct. 25 Down by the shore in a forsythia clump to-day I 

 heard a low warbling song and looked for a stray canary, but the 



note was too subdued. The gardener said it looked like a linnet, 



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