BIRD PARADISE 223 



tree defy the discomforts of the season. They are 

 particularly well situated for light housekeeping. 

 Their table is as extensive as all the trees in their 

 reach. Bark table-spreads and the viands, just 

 under the bark — always ready for use. Faultless 

 table manners mark their demeanor, while they 

 are taking their meals, and food-taking employs 

 most of their waking time. "When I visit the 

 wood I am met at the door by the chickadees, 

 and usually they accompany me during my entire 

 stay. Easily I get the idea that they are extend- 

 ing a cordial welcome to the parson. The idea 

 does me good and seems to do the birds good 

 also. The ups and downs of life are nicely illus* 

 trated by the chickadee's movements. He ap- 

 pears the happiest when he is running down the 

 tree. His athletics combine all the turns and 

 twists that can be made by a living creature. 

 Then that song of his ! What can be cheerier — 

 the very tone of it, domestic in every sense of 

 the word ! A piece of meat hung in the porch 

 centres their attention during the winter, while 

 furnishing them with a feast that they appreciate.^ 



The Audubon calendar for 1908 bears on its 

 first page a picture of a bevy of nuthatches that 



