BIRD PARADISE i8i 



spare permanently. I rather enjoy their ener- 

 getic, offhand way of using an enemy. Only last 

 week a red squirrel looked in upon my lawn, 

 thinking, perhaps, to enjoy its quiet for a little 

 time undisturbed. Never did a squirrel reckon 

 more completely without his host. The sparrows 

 discovered him and in less time than it takes me 

 to tell it hustled him off toward the swamp, 

 every part of his small body sore with the blows 

 he received. I am quite sure some of the habits 

 of the sparrows are changing. I see them using 

 more insects and worms this season than any 

 season before. The one lame thing about them 

 is their song. It seems to be the same shaky 

 apology for bird song that it was when I first 

 heard it. They appear to have no realizing sense 

 that it lacks anything. At least they go on using 

 it as though it were the song of songs among the 

 birds. Ah, such broad gleams of human nature 

 as appear among the birds ! The day of creature 

 life declares it and I suppose always will. 



When the storm was at its height I heard the 

 calls of the crows mingled with those of the blue 

 jays — all somewhat chilly like the temperature 

 of the air. I noticed that the crows put forth no 



