bit's fur was used, which was identified 

 by the fringe of loose hair that clung 

 to the entrance, for the hollow was too 

 deep to look down into the nest. 



Some time after the discovery of the 

 chickadees' habitation, when the peaches 

 and plums were in blossom and the air 

 soft and balmy the wrens arrived from 

 their winter home. 



These inquisitive little creatures peer 

 out very knowingly from their retreat 

 amidst the verdure, at anyone who comes 

 near, and they win the heart of all by 

 their pert manners and love of human 

 companionship. These modestly attired 

 little warblers are extremely lively and 

 nimbly search among the foliage for 

 food, destroying many harmful insects. 

 In scanning every possible and impos- 

 sible place about the premises for a suit- 

 able nesting site, one of these dapper 

 little fellows spied the snuggery in the 

 stump which captivated his fancy, and 

 he forthwith proceeded to try to take 

 possession. But such outrageous tres- 

 passing was not to be allowed for a 

 moment by the chickadees and whenever 

 the little brown rogue crept up to the 

 entrance to peep in, out would pop the 

 I proprietor, in his jaunty black cap, and 

 j. put him to flight. The intruder would 

 then perch on a branch near by, stretch 

 himself to his full height, with tail erect, 

 I as though to appear of as much conse- 

 j quence as possible, and alternately scold 

 and pour forth defiant song at his op- 

 j ponent. This antagonism was kept up 

 for several days, till finally the wrens 

 I gave up the contest and began furnish- 

 ing a neat little bird house in a maple 

 tree close by. 



When they had nearly completed their 

 labor the young chickadees left the nest 

 to follow their sprightly parents about 

 the orchard, whereupon the whimsical 

 but industrious wrens immediately aban- 

 doned their pretty summer cottage to 

 occupy the now vacant cavity in the 

 stump. These two little birds (chicka- 



[dee and wren), much alike in some re- 

 spects, show a very decided difference 

 in the choice of nesting material. The 

 hollow was soon filled to overflowing 



with sticks, the main substance of every 

 wren's nest. 



In due season a brood issued forth, 

 followed by another later, to swell tke 

 young bird population, then at its height. 

 Only think of the amount of extrava- 

 gant activity and drollery that was reared 

 in that cavity nursery ! 



As the Creator did not implant the 

 migratory instinct, except in the very 

 slightest measure in the chickadee's na- 

 ture, his travels are mostly local and his 

 spruce little form may be seen in all sea- 

 sons. During the fall and winter, after 

 the fidgety wrens have departed for the 

 sunny southland, is the most favorable 

 time to study the habits of the chicka- 

 dee. His actions may then be observed 

 most readily, as he flits among the bare 

 branches in search of prey, occasionally 

 taking time to utter his cheerful chick- 

 adee-dee. 



He is a ^reat aid to the fruit grower. 

 Let anyone that doubts this repair to an 

 orchard and observe a company of them 

 taking their meals. And it is an interest- 

 ing sight to watch a merry party of these 

 little creatures, as with never-ceasing ac- 

 tivity they dexterously explore the trees 

 for food. With the greatest nicety they 

 poise in every conceivable attitude; from^ 

 the trunk they dart to the topmost spray, 

 now to the center of the tree and then 

 instantly to the outside branches. While 

 searching the trunk or a perpendicular 

 branch, the head may be upward or the 

 reverse ; or if a horizontal branch is un- 

 dergoing examination his feet are as 

 likely to point heavenward as not ; or he 

 may hang suspended from a swaying 

 twig. Ever in motion, flitting, hopping, 

 swinging to and fro, they investigate 

 every nook and cranny and draw num- 

 berless injurious insects, their eggs and 

 larvae from their lurking places. The 

 ■chickadee's tongue, a fork-shaped in- 

 strument, is admirably adapted to pry- 

 ing its prey out of crevices of bark. 



They by no means confine their work 

 to the orchard, but all kinds of trees and 

 shrubs are alike visited. In thus per- 

 forming the duty assigned them by Na- 

 ture they are of inestimable service to 

 man. Addie L. Booker. 



85 



