196 BIRD PARADISE 



at night, I suppose an owl drops in, being the 

 only feaster at that hour of the day. The birds 

 that visit the place seem on peaceable terms with 

 one another, which is not always the case, when 

 they meet in the summer. They use their call 

 notes freely, which is about all the song most of 

 them have. The woodpeckers are not very talka- 

 tive in the winter, though they appear lively and 

 happy hearted. The chickadees are sprightly 

 and use their entire song more freely, if possible, 

 than in the summer. What cheery little fellows 

 they are. The very tone of their voices is most 

 attractive. Of course the English sparrow is on 

 active duty wherever he finds anything to eat. 

 His capacity for food is not excelled by that of 

 any other bird. No other bird more talkative, 

 and I half conjecture that no other bird really 

 says less. For noise that reaches far and is high 

 keyed, the blue jay furnishes a supply that is 

 simply unrivaled among the feathered songsters. 

 I think he enjoys using his voice and startling all 

 birddom with the sharp, piercing sound. 



I hear that my crow friends are gathering in 

 their winter haunts. Someway their wireless 

 telegraphy has given them the news that has 



