too hammer into cracks and holes such 

 things as sunflower seeds, corn and nuts 

 for winter use. Mr. Chickadee and I 

 have agreed to work together. I hunt 

 only on the trunks and larger limbs, 

 leaving the smaller branches for friend 

 Chickadee. If he can not find quite 

 enough he knows how to hunt around 

 houses. Children who see him only 

 when snow is on the ground call him 

 Snowbird and sometimes kindly throw 

 him crumbs." 



"I can eat buds of some trees and 

 seeds, too," added Mr. Chickadee. 



Just then a Northern Shrike alighted 

 in their midst. In an instant there was 

 a flutter of great alarm. The cool head- 

 ed chairman bade everybody to sit still 

 and he would see to it that nobody was 

 hurt. Because of his cruelty, you know, 

 the Shrike is often called Mr. Butcher 

 Bird. He catches other birds which he 

 hangs on great thorns while he tears and 

 eats their flesh. Even the English Spar- 

 rows are afraid of him. 



Chairman Eagle explained the pur- 

 pose of their meeting and Mr. Shrike 

 promised to hurt no one. Looking 

 around he said, "I have just come from 

 my summer home in the north to spend 

 the winter with you. I see gay little 

 Winter Wren hopping around. As soon 

 as there comes a northern snowfall 

 heavy enough to cover the weed seeds 

 there Mr. and Mrs. Snow Bunting will 

 join us." 



"How glad we will be to see them ; 

 glad to see them !" chattered happy 

 Chickadee. "We will have a jolly game 

 of snowball. Chick-a-dee-dee-dee ! Da- 

 da-day!" And he hopped along and 

 around a branch one of the most light- 

 hearted creatures living. 



Mr. English Sparrow wished to say 

 something. "Our flock can always find 

 a warm place and something — " 



Just then a hoarse voice was heard 

 calling, "Who, who, who, who, ar-r-r-re 

 you?" As the feathered people must 

 ever be on the alert to protect their lives, 

 in a second all was as quiet as the grave. 

 Thinking that some better dressed bird 

 only meant to make fun of him and his 

 many wives Mr. English Sparrow flew 

 into a passion and began to pull off his 

 coat. 



Mr. Eagle told the crowd that there 

 was no need of a scare. "That," said 

 he, "is only Mr. Barred Owl in yon tree. 

 He has been roused by our talking. Put 

 on your coat, foolish Mr. Sparrow." 



Mr. Jay could not let slip the chance 

 to twit his neighbor. "Ha, ha!" said 

 he ; "you had better get enough more 

 wives to teach you how to behave your- 

 self." 



Everyone looked around laughing. 

 Thinking that night had come and that 

 his friends from the next timber had 

 come to make a call, Mr. Owl again 

 broke out: "He-he-he-he, hi-hi-hi-hi, 

 ha-ha-ha-ha !" 



Mr. English Sparrow was vexed and 

 ashamed, but being afraid to get into a 

 fight he flew off. 



As it was getting late in the day the 

 chairman said that the meeting must 

 close. "It is useless to talk longer," said 

 he. "It is plain that our pretty Meadow 

 Larks and other insect eating birds must 

 move or starve. We shall be very sorry 

 to see them leave and hope to meet them 

 again on their return next spring. They 

 are needed at the south. May God speed 

 their journey. 



"But some of us must remain or shirk 

 oar duty. The Turkey Buzzards and 

 their helpers must be here to clean up 

 the fields and groves and to clear away 

 dead things washed ashore. If these 

 things are not done the foul air next 

 spring may make much sickness. Wood- 

 peckers must keep at their work or plants 

 will suffer next summer. Those who 

 can eat seeds must be active or the farm- 

 ers will not be able to keep down the 

 weeds. Grouse, Jay, Wax Wing and 

 others who can manage berries and nuts 

 must not leave or in a few years trees 

 and underbrush will be so thick that there 

 will not be room for them to branch out. 

 Even our hated Mr. English Sparrow is 

 needed to pick up droppings in the street 

 and waste around houses. We are all 

 needed — each to do his own bit of work 

 in his own place and way. Although that 

 may not be just what we prefer, may we 

 all do our duty just as cheerfully as 

 man's friend, Mr. Turkey Buzzard, does 

 his unpleasant tasks." 



LOVEDAY ALMIRA NELSON. 



152 



