MYERS ] 



A FEATHERED POLICEMAN 



257 



be said, too, that, after the bulbs once start indoors, they cannot 

 endure sudden alternate thawing and freezing thereafter. Refer- 

 ence has already been made to means of protecting schoolroom 

 plants in winter. 



Chicago Teachers' College. 



A Feathered Policeman 



Harriet Williams Myers. 



The mockingbirds are regular tenants of ours, being always 

 about and oftentimes acting as if they, rather than we. owned 

 the place. These gray songsters are birds of many moods, sing- 

 ing and scolding almost in the same breath. 



On one occasion the actions of one of these birds were very 

 amusing to those who witnessed them. and. I believe, were con- 

 sidered a good joke by the bird itself. 



It was winter time and the bird table was, as usual, supplied 

 with food. A large flock of winter visitants, the white-crowned 

 sparrows, were swarming over the board. These sparrows are 

 always hungry and, being rather overbearing in actions, often 

 keep the Audubon warblers and other timid birds awav more 

 than I like. But there came a day when they met their iust 

 deserts. 



It was their habit not only to eat from the table hut uitcn 



White Crowned Sparrow at the Food Table. 



