i 4 6 THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



Two bluebirds built beneath the end of the 

 ridgepole over the door before the cabin was com- 

 pleted. They were confiding from the start, but 

 not until the first eggs were hatched did they take 

 time to call upon me. One afternoon Mrs. Blue 

 flew in and circled the room and as she went out her 

 mate came in. The next time both came in to- 

 gether and curiously examined a number of ob- 

 jects on the table. After this they often alighted 

 upon my shoulders and ate from my hands. 



A wren often sang outside while I stood within 

 reach and sometimes, too, came into the cabin for 

 something to eat, but he never alighted upon me 

 nor ate from my fingers. 



Except in summer, flocks of chickadees came 

 every few days. The first flock that I welcomed 

 looked at me and called sweetly to one another. I 

 stood close and talked to them, offering something 

 to eat, but they went on busily feeding from limb 

 to limb. They were sometimes scattered over and 

 through two near-by trees at once. But one day a 

 flock stopped for a merry visit. Two, three, four, 

 the entire flock, alighted on me, all merrily calling 

 " chick-a-de-de-dee." Momentarily chickadees 

 took possession of me — head, arms, and shoulders. 

 Then they flew forward, one or more at a time, 

 constantly calling to one another so that none 

 would be left behind. These cheerful little people 

 always seemed happy in their food-hunting ram- 

 bles. 



