AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



29 



Plioto from life by Ev 



"CHICKADEE-DEE. 



First of all came a flock of Chickadees, warm as could be in their 

 gray and white feather coats and black hoods, and singing: "Chickadee- 

 dee-dee. Look under this tree. My thanks, friend, to thee." A 

 Brown Creeper slipped around the trunk of the oak, and decided that a 

 few bites of the suet would make a fine desert for his dinner of grubs. 

 A downy woodpecker and his cousin hairy woodpecker, each in red 

 caps, followed his example. There were sparrows galors running over 

 the frozen crust; an occasional white-throated sparrow wearing a hand- 

 some hood with black, white, and yellow stripes, and pure white ties- 

 Of course the English sparrows were there too, tho' they were not in- 

 vited, nor were they wanted, and one dear little song sparrow flew 

 down and called: "Maids, maids, maids, hang on your tea-kettle." 

 Then a company of juncos in trim slate colored coats and gray white 

 vests, appeared, seeming to rejoice in the frosty air; you will find them 

 ready for a picnic every day. Those polite quakers, the cedar birds, the 

 welcome nuthatch, blue jays, crows, goldfinches, and even a few belat 

 ed robins and blue birds came, glad of a chance to supplement a scanty 

 breakfast. These and many others daily enjoy the feast of good things 

 spread out for them. If you cannot come to our January picnic under 

 the oak, spread a similar table for the winter birds near your own home, 

 and I am sure you will be more than repaid for your trouble. 



SNOW BIRDS. 



There is a disease called aphasia, in which a person is unable to 

 speak the word he wishes. In giving an account of the Junco, I must 

 have had a touch of that malady, for I find many important words have 

 been left out, so I ask the help of the boys and girls to supply the miss- 

 ing words. 



