MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



action that would be unbearable in a human being 

 is only captivating and amusing in a bird, and we 

 love the little fellow in spite of his domineering 

 ways. 



It was during his stay in the infirmary that he 

 acquired the banana habit; a taste that has ever 

 since been respected by his admirers. Indeed 

 there is a certain old tree remnant known as " the 

 banana stump," where samples of the tropical 

 dainty daily await the ex-invalid. I think it 

 must have been the evident relish with which 

 he ate that first attracted the wood-thrushes, rob- 

 ins, and red squirrels to the spot. At any rate, 

 claimants for the banana of discord are now nu- 

 merous, and the once peaceable stump has been 

 transformed into a seat of war. 



Over in yonder weedy section I see a busy com- 

 munity of sparrows. The heads that lift at our 

 approach disclose the white throats which make 

 identification such an easy matter, for these are 

 the white-throated sparrows. Now that they 

 have satisfied their curiosity regarding us they 

 fall to work again, and, although the distance be- 

 tween them and us is rapidly diminishing, they 

 continue their weed-seed gathering as unconcern- 

 edly as though we were not present. Surely this 



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