256 BIRD PARADISE 



the table is, and such a variety of viands as ap- 

 pear is scarcely known anywhere else. Man uses 

 a very few of the different species of creatures 

 for food, but my woodpecker parishioners appro- 

 priate countless numbers during the year, es- 

 pecially during the winter season. Many of them 

 are smaller, I am sure, than the human eye can 

 discern, and one might conclude that feasting on 

 such minute particles of food would hardly ever 

 enable the eater to really feel or say, " Enough." 

 Curious that a part of this large family migrates, 

 though most of the species remain here the entire 

 year. Why they do and why they do not are of 

 the secrets not yet uncovered to mortals. 



With the coming of the snow I am sure to re- 

 ceive calls from the birds who linger with us 

 through the winter. Many of the calls have for 

 their incentive a business motive. But they come 

 frequently when the social element is largely to 

 the front. Their method of shaking hands is full 

 of real bird spirit, and while what they say is 

 somewhat obscure it has a cheery tone which I 

 greatly enjoy. Among the smaller winter birds 

 the chickadee certainly ranks very high. They 

 seldom look in upon me in the summer— just why I 



