Odds and Ends 133 



never heard him, and indeed saw him only a few times. 

 But the sweet, silvery roulade could there be anything 

 more charming in the world of outdoor music? 



My winter rambles and winter is almost as good a 

 time for bird study as summer enabled me to note 

 some variety of temperament in the avian realm. One 

 thing we soon learn in our winter outings : Few birds are 

 recluses. No, they are sociable creatures, living in what 

 might be called nomadic communities. In the spring- 

 time, during the mating season, they pair off and become 

 more or less exclusive and secretive, keeping close to the 

 precincts they have selected; but in winter they grow 

 more neighborly, and move about in the woods or over 

 the fields in flocks of various sizes. 



The woodland flocks usually consist of a number of 

 species all of which seem to be on the most cordial terms, 

 having, no doubt, a community of interest. As we quietly 

 pursue our way in this wooded vale, we see no birds for 

 some distance. Presently a fine, protesting " chick-a-dee- 

 dee! chick -a-dee- dee P' breaks the silence. It is the 

 warning call of the tomtit or chickadee, which we soon 

 espy tilting about on his trapeze of twigs in the trees or 

 bushes. But you may depend upon it he is not alone; he 

 is only a part of the rim of a feathered colony dwelling 

 near at hand, and consisting, very likely, of tufted titmice, 

 white-breasted nuthatches, juncos, tree sparrows, blue 

 jays, one or two downy woodpeckers, a pair of cardinals, 

 a flicker or two, and a cackling red-breasted woodpecker. 

 There may be even a song sparrow in the company and a 



