OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



lifted her wings and preened herself in absolute con- 

 tent. 



The presence of the hairy or the downy woodpecker 

 feeding her squawking infant from the suet six feet 

 away never disturbed the song sparrow in the least; a 

 catbird devouring chopped nuts on the other side of the 

 water dish never interfered with his repast; even the 

 gray squirrel would get within two feet of him before 

 he would leave what he had learned to consider his 

 own apartment. It is needless to add that this par- 

 ticular year I gladly gave up my window-box of sweet- 

 scented plants in exchange for the companionship of 

 these adorable song sparrows. 



These are some of the joys of my window; but 

 that there are also drawbacks was shown by another 

 winter experience. For several nights I had been 

 disturbed by the nibbling of some night animal on 

 the birds' window sill, so just within the small open- 

 ing of the double windows I placed a mouse trap. No 

 sooner had I lost myself in slumber than I was 

 awakened by a squealing and a thumping by the 



122 



