WILD LIFE ABOUT MY CABIN 



was into the heart of a Httle sassafras, about four 

 feet from the ground. Day after day the birds 

 took turns in deepening and enlarging the cavity: 

 a soft, gentle hammering for a few moments in the 

 heart of the little tree, and then the appearance of 

 the worker at the opening, with the chips in his, 

 or her, beak. They changed off every little while, 

 one working while the other gathered food. Abso- 

 lute equality of the sexes, both in plumage and 

 in duties, seems to prevail among these birds, as 

 among a few other species. During the preparations 

 for housekeeping the birds were hourly seen and 

 heard, but as soon as the first egg was laid, all this "^ 

 was changed. They suddenly became very shy and 

 quiet. Had it not been for the new egg that was 

 added each day, one would have concluded that 

 they had abandoned the place. There was a pre- 

 cious secret now that must be well kept. After incu- 

 bation began, it was only by watching that I could 

 get a glimpse of one of the birds as it came quickly 

 to feed or to relieve the other. 



One day a lot of Vassar girls came to visit me, and 

 I led them out to the little sassafras to see the chick- 

 adees' nest. The sitting bird kept her place as head 

 after head, with its nodding plumes and millinery, 

 appeared above the opening to her chamber, and a 

 pair of inquisitive eyes peered down upon her. But I 

 saw that she was getting ready to play her little trick 

 to frighten them away. Presently I heard a faint 



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