V 

 A BIRDS' FREE LUNCH 



ONE winter, during four or five weeks of severe 

 weather, several of our winter birds were 

 pensioners upon my bounty, — three blue jays, 

 two downy woodpeckers, three chickadees, and 

 one kinglet, — and later a snowbird — junco — ap- 

 peared. 



I fastened pieces of suet and marrow-bones upon 

 the tree in front of my window, then, as I sat at my 

 desk, watched the birds at their free lunch. The jays 

 bossed the woodpeckers, the woodpeckers bossed the 

 chickadees, and the chickadees bossed the kinglet. 



Sometimes in my absence a crow would swoop 

 down and boss the whole crew and carry off the 

 meat. The kinglet was the least of all, — a sort of 

 " hop-o'-my-thumb " bird. He became quite tame, 

 and one day alighted upon my arm as I stood lean- 

 ing against the tree. I could have put my hand 

 upon him several times. I wonder where the midget 

 roosted. He was all alone. He liked the fare so well 

 that he seemed disposed to stop till spring. Dur- 

 ing one terrible night of wind and snow and zero 

 temperature I feared he would be swept away- 1 



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