I70 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



stone to see who is coming, and then return to their gleaning. Save 

 for the rustling of the leaves, and by the way one would think that a 

 whole army of men were the cause of this noise instead of a few score 

 of little birds, they are very quiet during their travels. An occa- 

 sional sweet thrill from some unusually happy individual is the only 

 specific warning of their presence until they are disturbed by the un- 

 desirable presence of strangers when the whole flock will unite in loud 

 chirpings. How little we can tell of the real home life of a bird from 

 the scant observations that we are able to make as they hasten past us 

 on their way north. The Fox Sparrow during the nesting season is 

 said to rival the thrushes in the brilliancy of his song. His song is 

 more varied and the tones sweeter and purer than any of the thrushes 

 and in addition his sociable ways with mankind have placed him high 

 in the esteem of all bird lovers. 



THE LODGING OF THE WHITE/BREASTED NUTHATCH IN WINTER. 



This annual resident is one of the most industrious little fellows that 

 I know, and always inspires me with an ambition to be up and doing 

 myself. He is out all sorts of weather, for no matter how it blows, 

 storms and snows he can find a sheltered side on the tree where his 

 work is, and in the midst of all his busy searchings for food he forgets 

 not to utter his cheery work-a-day ditty, so helpful to the observer in 

 locating his presence and position. Many a time in a blinding, driving 

 snow storm have I observed this little ball of feathered assiduity, dili- 

 gently searching the sheltered side of the great pines and firs of the 

 forest as sprightly and cheerily as though all nature were at peace and 

 the warm sun beaming down. At such times his presence is a real in- 

 spiration and a delight, especially if the observer chance to be snow 

 bound in some log cabin in the wilderness. 



He is not a gregarious bird in either his nesting or working habits, 

 and I had always supposed that he were a solitary householder in his 

 lodging habits, at least that no more than himself and wife occupied 

 the same apartments, unless it be occasionally with some friendly 

 neighbor, or through misfortune. I never even supposed that he oc- 

 cupied the same lodging twice in succession except it be in the nesting 

 season. 



So little do we sometimes know of the habits of our most common 

 bird neighbors that it was nothing short of a revelation to me one even- 

 ing when coming home late from a winter gunning expedition, to learn 

 that this whilom friend of mine had a regularly appointed lodgings of 

 aristocratic proportions, done in natural wood, where all the birds of 



