MY CHICADEE FRIENDS 95 



was built it would be about right. Also the stump 

 was a trifle low, being not more than four and a 

 half feet high, but it is better not to be too 

 particular : he who would search until he finds 

 perfection dies while he is yet searching. 



As a rule no bird likes to build its nest while a 

 human being looks on, for well do they know by 

 past experience, that is but too sad, what danger 

 lurks in the human form. How many tales of 

 desolation and misery could they tell if speech was 

 in their power ; tales of hopes blasted at the moment 

 when all seemed most promising, of wholesale death, 

 of entire families wiped out by the thoughtless act of 

 some human creature. Surely is it safer to have little 

 trust and faith in both man and beast. The man 

 will destroy without object or reason, while the beast 

 at least has the excuse that he does so for food ! It 

 was, therefore, a surprise to me when Chicadee and 

 his mate began their building operations. After 

 hopping about on the thinly-leaved bushes, and 

 occasionally coming within a few feet of my head, 

 always replying to the call note that I whistled 

 by way of an introduction, they set to work. 



" Dee-dee " I had called, and " chicadee-dee-dee " 

 was the answer. 



So we were introduced, and they might now get 

 to work, for there was much to be done and only four 

 short days before the first egg would be laid, and a 

 fitting nest must at all costs be made ready. The 

 sky was clouding over and there was the possibility 

 of rain, which would delay the nest-building, as by 

 making the materials wet it would unfit them for a 

 Chicadee's nest, that should above all things be 



