MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



outcome of a raid of some of my proteges on poul- 

 try yards at a little distance from us, where food 

 was strewn, apparently, after the hospitable man- 

 ner of the table d'hote. Perhaps the grackles 

 looked upon the poultry yards as annexes to my es- 

 tablishment ; at any rate they probably partook of 

 the provisions with the same feeling of security 

 with which they ate at my table. But alas, their 

 confidence was one day rudely shaken, for a show- 

 er of shot fell in among them as they ate, and sev- 

 eral were killed. Of course some escaped unhurt, 

 while others made their way back to the grove, 

 only in time to die among their beloved haunts. 



You will not be surprised to hear that I looked 

 in vain for grackles among my guests during the 

 days that immediately followed the slaughter, 

 though now and then I caught glimpses of their 

 glistening coats as they stealthily passed from one 

 sheltered part of the grove to another. I had 

 about made up my mind that they would never 

 again venture to join the happy little party at my 

 restaurant, when, arising one morning at dawn, I 

 surprised a flock of them in the table d'hote trees. 

 Not one ventured to the ground, but in among the 

 protecting branches they were eagerly devouring 

 the luscious bread-puddings with which Mr. 



['34] 



