MY CHICADEE FRIENDS 97 



therefore accept the proffered morsel, rather must 

 she continue her work, for the clouds were gathering 

 in dark masses that promised at least a heavy 

 shower when her moss-gathering must cease. In 

 vain did Chicadee coax ; it was all to no purpose ! 

 she must work. Her beak full, she flew to the nest, 

 remained there as before a few minutes and then 

 reappeared. This was Chicadee's opportunity, and 

 he hurried to her before she had a chance to gather 

 any more of the much desired moss. With the 

 most deUcate manner imaginable he once more 

 offered the dainty morsel, and she accepted it with 

 a graceful flutter, just as a young girl might on 

 accepting a gift from her lover. 



So many writers and others criticise in a severe 

 manner the growing tendency towards seeing, or 

 making believe to see, habits in birds that bear re- 

 semblance to our own. In other words, they object 

 to what they call the human side of birds. They 

 consider the claim for it absurd, without foundation, 

 and existing only in minds inclined towards senti- 

 mentality. That the tendency may, like all tenden- 

 cies, be carried too far, beyond the bounds of reason, 

 is quite true, but, Mr. Critic, have you ever observed 

 birds, whether at large or in captivity ? If so, you 

 must surely have little powers of observation, or 

 perhaps you see through the spectacles of prejudice, 

 for otherwise you could scarcely fail to find in birds 

 counterparts of both our faults and our better 

 qualities. Jealousy is nearly as strong in birds as 

 it is with us, and we find it shown in exactly the 

 same ways. Anger, good-nature, suspicion, confi- 

 dence, constancy, inconstancy, hatred, love, selfish- 



W.L.C. H 



