WINTER FROLICS. 43 



dwelling chiefly in the eastern part of the woodland 

 not far from a farm-house, and the other occupying 

 the western part. Sometimes,' too, another com- 

 munity was found in the partly cleared section at 

 the northern extremity of one arm of the timber 

 belt. These several groups reminded one of the 

 nomadic tribes of Oriental countries, who rove 

 from one locality to another within certain loosely 

 defined boundaries. True, it is merely a matter 

 of speculation ; but I have often wondered if feuds 

 and jealousi,es ever arise among these various 

 feathered tribes, as is so conspicuously the case in 

 the human world. I doubt it very much, for my 

 woodland birds dwell together in comparative 

 harmony, and are not half so quarrelsome and 

 envious as many communities of men and women. 

 Bird nature is evidently not so depraved as human 

 nature. Perhaps, as the birds had no direct hand 

 in the first transgression, the curse did not fall so 

 blightingly upon them. 



My western bird colony were somewhat erratic 

 in their movements. During December and the 

 first week in January I found them almost invari- 

 ably in a secluded part of the woods about half-way 

 between the northern and southern extremities ; 

 but when, about the middle or possibly the twen- 

 tieth of January, I visited the haunt, not a bird of 

 any description could be found. Had all of them 

 gone to other climes ? I felt a pang as the thought 

 came. But there was no occasion for solicitude. 

 Near the southern terminus of the woods, although 



