The Audubon Societies 465 



next day he had drilled in, so I could see that the post was hollow all the way 

 to the top. So I nailed a tin on the top to keep out the rain. I knew it was Mr. 

 Downy that drilled the hole by the red on his head. In a few days I saw that 

 the nest was occupied by Mrs. Downy. One day at 4 p.m. I went out and tapped 

 on the post, and Mrs. Downy came out and flew into a cherry tree ne.\t door. 

 After I went in the house she came over to the fence, then she flew over on the 

 the post and went up to the hole and put her head in, then pulled it out quick. 

 After repeating this several times, she went in. My mother told me that the 

 hole was made to roost in on cold winter nights. Mrs. Downy seemed to be 

 the boss, and chased Mr. Downy away and went to roost herself, because I 

 always saw Mrs. Downy go in, but never Mr. Downy. I don't like to get up 

 early these cold mornings, and I guess Mrs. Downy doesn't either, because one 

 morning I saw her fly out after eight o'clock. One day a neighbor's cat came 

 over the fence and was sniffing around the post, and my mother chased him 

 away. The cat came around several times after that. I haven't seen Mrs. 

 Downy since January 10. I think the cat climbed the post and got the bird. 

 H. George Cottrell (age 8), 14 Sharon Avenue, Irvington, N. J. 



[Bird-study in winter is always rewarding if one has sufficient interest to discover 

 what the birds which spend the cold season with us, are doing. The subject of the roost- 

 ing holes of birds in winter would be admirable for a composition, provided some original 

 observations were made first. Another excellent subject is the habits of birds with refer- 

 ence to rising and retiring at different seasons of the year. Since keen, reliable observa- 

 tion is the basis of good bird-study, teachers and pupils both should cultivate it, rather 

 than depend too much on books. — A. H. W.] 



