56 



Bird -Lore 



known as the 'Ramble' is a particularly good one for birds, and dur- 

 ing the past winter, when it was not too cold, I have often gone from 

 my study in the nearby Museum of Natural History to eat my luncheon 

 with the birds in the Ramble. Many other bird-lovers have also 

 visited the Park to study and feed the birds, and, as always happens 

 when birds learn that they will not be harmed, they have become 

 remarkably tame. 



This is especially true of the. Chickadees, who, under any circum- 

 stances, seem to have less fear of man than most birds. When I 



A BIRD IN THE HAND 

 Photographed from nature, by F. M. Chapman. 



entered the Ramble they soon responded to an imitation of their 

 plaintive call of two high, clearly whistled notes. And in a short time 

 we became such good friends that I had only to hold out my hand 

 with a nut in it to have one of them at once perch on a finger, look 

 at me for a moment with an inquiring expression in his bright little 

 eyes, then take the nut and fly off to a neighboring limb, where, 

 holding it beneath his toes, he would hammer away at it with his 

 bill, Blue Jay fashion. 



One day I induced one of them to pose before my camera, and, 

 as a result, I now have the pleasure of presenting you with his 

 portrait, as an actual proof that nuts are much more effective than 

 salt, in catching birds. So, after this, we won't go out with salt- 

 cellars, but with a supply of food : nor should we forget to take 

 a "pocketful of patience," which, Mrs. Wright says, is the salt of 

 the bird-catching legend. 



