AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



11 



The birds soon made themselves at home on the window-sill, but were 

 afraid of me at first, even when the window was closed. After I felt sure 

 they did not mind me, when I was reasonably qiiiet behind the closed window, 

 I thought it would be interesting to see whether they would be frightened 

 away if the window was open. I started by leaving it open a little way while 

 I was out of the room, in this way, letting the birds know that the warm air 

 was harmless. After giving them time to get used to this, I stayed near the 

 partly opened window while the birds came and went. At first they were 

 much afraid, but they soon decided that I would not hurt them. One morn- 

 ing I went away, leaving my study window open, and at the same time 

 carelessly leaving some choice crumbs on a table near the window. A pair of 

 Chickadees, seeing the doughnut crumbs, flew into the room, and then forgot 

 how to make their escape. They were found beating against the glass with 

 their bills open. The poor little things were helped to escape. 1 opened the 

 window a little more every day until the birds learned not to mind me when 

 it was open quite wide, although the Chickadees were but little afraid. 

 The White-breasted Nuthatches have never come to the window-sill without 

 fear while I was near. 



A Nuthatch. 



One bitter cold morning, when the birds were very hungry, I put no food 

 out, but kept a careful watch for the first arrival for his breakfast. When I 

 saw a Chickadee, I put some crumbs into my hand, opened the window a 

 little and quietly laid my hand flat upon the window-sill and waited. The 

 Chickadee came cautiously until he got to the wire right in front of my hand. 



