AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 299 



The drumming of a Grouse next attracted my attention. From 

 early boyhood I have longed to see a Grouse drum. I have crawled 

 through swamps upon my hands and knees. I have concealed myself 

 near a "drumming log." In fact I have done everything but I never 

 have been able to surprise the Grouse drumming. Upon the day in 

 question I saw the bird upon the log, but unfortunately he saw me at 

 the same time and stepped down and walked away. Not in haste, oh, 

 no, there was no unseemingly haste, but slowly and with dignity. 



If any of the readers of American Ornithology, have seen Grouse in 

 the act of drumming their stories would be interesting. I for one, 

 would like to know how they succeeded. 



The declining sun warned me that it was time to turn my steps 

 homeward so I left the woods. 



Just before I reached the road I noticed a bird upon a limb of a tree, 

 which I took for a Whip-poor-will, but upon closer examination I 

 thought it was a Night-hawk. Unable to decide I threw a stick and 

 drove it from its perch. Flying, two white spots were observable 

 upon its wings, so I knew it for the latter. 



So ended a very pleasant afternoon. 



A FAMILY OF CHICKADEES. 



By a. C. Dike. 



To all who have become interested in the feathered residents about 

 their homes, nothing seems to afford greater pleasure and more inter- 

 esting experiences than experiments with them that show the amount 

 of confidence which they sometimes manifest in man. Considerable 

 has been written during the past few years concerning the methods of 

 attracting the more familiar species of birds to our homes and those 

 who have intelligently undertaken this work have met with very grati- 

 fying results. Occasionally individuals of certain species such as the 

 Chipping Sparrow, Bluebird, Robin, Nuthatch and Chickadee, have be- 

 come so confiding in man as to approach very near or even alight upon 

 his hand. 



In taming the birds about our homes it is necessary that we do only 

 those things that assure them and make them feel that we are their 

 friends. Among such acts by which we are able to give this assurance 

 the proffer of food is the most effective. The saying that the "only 

 way to a bird's heart is thru his crop," is a fact that has been verified 

 by every one who has attempted the taming of wild birds. Another 

 fact which should be borne in mind in taming a bird, is, that it is a 



