The Audubon Societies 129 



As we have entered on our third year of work of this kind in the press, you 

 might be interested to know of it. The column devoted to "Our Bird Neigh- 

 bors" is pubHshed every other Saturday and we are led to believe it is of interest 

 outside of our city, for we receive many letters of commendation, one university 

 writing that the articles therein are kept on file, while a principal of a school 

 in a smaller town reports that they are put up on the school bulletin board as 

 soon as received. 



Our next issue will contain a list of forty-five birds seen by the writer dur- 

 ing the month of October, 19 18. We have a Bird Club here of about sixty 

 members, which is not so large as before war activities took so much time. A 

 Junior Club of over one hundred members has been held in suspension during 

 the period of the war since leaders of the groups were not available. — (Mrs.) 

 Mary L. Bailey, Sioux City, Iowa. 



[The column of bird notes, referred to under the title: "Our Bird Neighbors," is 

 made up of observations in the vicinity of Sioux City, and constitutes a local bird- 

 calendar of much interest, as well as preserving in permanent form many incidents of 

 timely value. In addition to seasonal notes, this column is made additionally attract 

 ive by various bird happenings and experiences, such as this, for example: ''A new 

 bird-bath in a North Side yard was eagerly watched by members of the family to see 

 what birds would help to dedicate it. Imagine the surprise and pleasure of the watchers 

 when a Pheasant stepped in daintily to taste of the water! Where did it come from? 

 Is there someone near who owns one for a pet, or did it only stop in passing? The Ring- 

 necked Pheasant is not unknown here, but it is by no means common." 



Those who are familiar with the tricks and activities of the Crow will enjoy the 

 account given below of a pet Blue Jay. 



The following story was written for the Bird Notes by Mrs. John M. McDonald, of 

 our city. It is of especial interest because it is true in every detail and also because it 

 belongs to an early period of our development as a city: 



On the 4th of July, 1890, while taking a family drive in the woods at Riverside 

 (then unknown to park fame) a young Blue Jay was discovered at the roadside, evi- 

 dently having fallen from the nest and unable to help itself. It was rescued by the 

 'good man of the house,' and brought home in a handkerchief. 



Hunger forced it to adapt itself readily to its new surroundings and in a short time 

 it would eagerly swallow food such as flies, worms and other insects dropped into its 

 wide-open beak by its new-found friends. 



The little fellow matured sturdily, and, never being caged, but having the entire 

 freedom of the house and yard, going and coming at will; he developed many cunning 

 and remarkable habits, and was a constant source of delight throughout the summer, 

 on into the late autumn, when after several flights and returns he departed. 



To the one member of the family that gave him the most care, he became greatly 

 attached, flying after her to the street as she was about to take the car, and sometimes 

 following her inside. 



The motorman, in those days of common interest with the North Side dwellers, and 

 not being overly busy with passengers, would carefully hide the little fellow until upper 

 Jackson street was again reached, when he would stop and take him toward the house. 



On one of these attempts to see more of the world, Jay succeeded too well. As usual, 

 this motorman had placed the protecting hat over him on the seat, but a passenger, a 

 man at that, with great curiosity, hearing the scratching lifted the hat and away flew 



