The Bluebird 73 



and five bluebirds. On Nature's white background 

 the blue of the bluebirds, the gray of the sparrows, and 

 the brown and white of the snowflakes made indeed 

 a variety of color and contrast. 



The sweet disposition and gentle, lovable ways of the 

 bluebird are evident even in captivity. I once had 

 the pleasure of carefully studying the habits in captiv- 

 ity of both old and young of this species. The old 

 birds were kept in a large rooni with several other 

 varieties of American birds, and here they were models 

 of good behavior, not only among their own kind, but 

 in their relations with the other birds. 



The young birds were kept in cages, and with a 

 moderate amount of care and attention became very 

 tame. It was amusing to see them, about the usual 

 feeding time, arrange themselves on a particular perch. 

 Each bird, in order of precedence, would take the food 

 from a stick, and if one was purposely omitted, there was 

 no fluttering of wings or selfish attempt to obtain the 

 morsel as it was offered to the next bird. 



These unselfish table manners I have observed in 

 wild, bluebirds as well. Several years ago a pair of 

 bluebirds selected, as a home, the deserted winter 

 quarters of a downy woodpecker. The cavity was 

 located in the dead branch of a cherry tree which stood 

 in the yard in the rear of the house. On the seventh 



