BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



It was not until spring, however, that we 

 realized how many had come. During the 

 winter they hid round the barn and sheds and 

 did not trouble the Chickadees and Downy 

 Woodpeckers that came to the window for 

 suet. But with the first indication of spring 

 their aggressiveness began and they took 

 possession of the wood-pile where Chickadee 

 and Downy had liked to come. Later, when 

 the White Throated and White Crowned Spar- 

 rows came to us to rest a while on their way 

 to their nesting grounds, and would hop about 

 the door gathering the crumbs we had thrown 

 out for them, the European Sparrows com- 

 menced chasing them off. On one occasion 

 when a White Throat braver than the others 

 ventured near, the quarrelsome chattering of 

 the Sparrows brought us to the door, where we 

 discovered that they had simply surrounded 

 the unfortunate White Throat. We scattered 

 the chattering mob and White Throat took 

 refuge in the barberry hedge, and from there 

 made his escape, but it was some time before he 

 ventured to the door again. 



We could only promise the White Throats 

 and all the others that we would see to it that 

 [180] 



