The Audubon Societies 55 



THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH AND THE 

 FOOD-COUNTER 



The White-breasted Nuthatch is the most appreciative Httle guest that 

 visits the food-counter in winter. 'He eats what is set before him and asks no 

 questions.' He makes no complaints whatever. Fat pork and suet are his 

 favorite foods, but of course when he cannot get them, he is perfectly contented 

 with bread-crumbs. He comes at the slightest ring of the dinner-bell. 



The White-breasted Nuthatches are my most numerous guests at my 'free 

 lunch-room.' When they come for food, they remind me of a brook eternally 

 flowing. Frequently three to five may be seen bouncing down the tree-trunk 

 to the counter. 



One of my guests, however, is rather greedy. He scurries down the tree to 

 the counter flippantly, as if he owned it all. He then pops in and takes his meal. 



While eating, he has an expression on his tiny face that makes him look 

 like a naughty boy. I expect he knows he should not take so long, but just 

 simply wants to be bad. Others respect their friends and hurry away as soon 

 as they find a piece that suits them. They go away so quickly you would 

 think someone was nearby to shoot them. Maybe, and I shouldn't wonder, if 

 that wasn't bird politeness. 



Frequently I have seen five going to the counter at once. It is great fun to 

 watch them feed. These bright little sprites are a joy to the whole household. 

 We consider them as part of the family. I know we will miss them when the}- 

 go on their journey northward, but hope to see them next winter. — Sarah W. 

 Weaver (age 12), Monkton, Md., 1916. 



[Birds' politeness is hardly a suitable phrase, since it conveys a human conception 

 of meeting and greeting. Some birds go so far as to quarrel at the lunch-counter, striv- 

 ing to get the best or the most of the bill-of-fare. The pleasure to be had watching 

 feathered guests at a lunch-counter cannot be over estimated. — A. H. W.] 



BIRD-STUDY BRINGS ITS OWN REWARD 



I wrote you concerning a club of women, two of whom have studied birds 

 for years. We have had such a delightful Nature Club for two years ! Birds 

 are our particular study. 



Several of us take Bird-Lore and we have it in our public library. 



Last year I had a very enthusiastic seventh grade of forty pupils. We have 

 our Audubon Leaflets and use them for our Friday reading lesson. I steal 

 time when the drawing teacher cannot manage and have several of the pic- 

 tures painted, then we have an exhibition of our work and vote on the best 

 work. As we were members of the Audubon Society, the Liberty Bell as a 

 grade, and three of us belonged to the Burroughs Club, we decided to have a 

 name of our own, and chose 'Ch'gee gee,' Indian for Chickadee. Our banner 



