the birds, and help them with their nesting, 

 and the red squirrels, hawks, and weasels will 

 only serve, as it seems they must have been in- 

 tended to serve, to maintain a proper balance 

 in the wild life out-of-doors. 



For, after all, we do not want to lose any 

 creature from the few still left in our fields and 

 woods. The passing of the red squirrel would 

 be just as real a loss, and, in a way, as great a 

 loss, as the extinction of the redbird. I care to 

 hear him bluster in the pines. It is as foolish to 

 ask which of the two I had rather lose, red 

 squirrel from the woods, or redbird from the 

 swale, as to ask which of my two children I had 

 rather give up, the three-year-old who can 

 whistle, or the one-year-old who can only jabber. 



Chickaree has a wider acquaintance among 

 us humans than any other wild fellow in fur ; 

 and more friends, too, despite the multiplying 

 of those who know his real nature. He has 

 friends because he has earned them. Who ever 

 saw a chickaree, if he were given the slightest 

 chance to be friendly, that was bashful, squeam- 

 ish, or unsociable? 



He spills over with loud talk and conceit, but 

 [236] 



