466 



RECREATION. 



whole ear of corn in his mouth. He 

 passed near us, so I could not mistake what 

 he was carrying. For my part, I should 

 enjoy seeing squirrels around too much to 

 begrudge them a little corn. 



A. E. Beckwith, Cheney, Minn. 



ARE WILD ANIMALS JEALOUS? 



I notice in June Recreation some re- 

 marks by Mr. Browne in regard to squir- 

 rels injuring birds' nests, I believe it, 

 and from observation I think I have 

 arrived at the true reason why they do 

 so. I notice in all animals a great amount 

 of jealousy and in many cases resistance 

 if they think their lawful domains are about 

 to be usurped. The squirrel is more prone 

 to show this trait than any other member 

 of creation. 



A number of years ago I was tutor to a 

 gentleman's family in Ireland. He had a 

 tine estate and the grounds were kept in the 

 best trim. A private path led through a 

 part of the grounds called the hazel wood. 

 A number of large pine trees were scattered 

 through the hazel shrubs and this part of 

 the wood was fairly swarming with red 

 squirrels. A rustic seat was placed under 

 one of the pine trees and when I had time 

 I used to sit there a few minutes in pass- 

 ing and watch the fun and frolic of the lit- 

 tle fellows. When they got used to me and 

 saw I was not dangerous many would come 

 in the direction of the seat when they heard 

 my step. 



One morning in approaching this spot I 

 heard a terrible chatter of sparrows and 

 when I came up I saw the cause. Someone 

 had left a- few stalks of ripe wheat on the 

 seat ; the sparrows wanted the grain and 

 the squirrels were guarding it like so many 

 little dogs. They would not let a bird 

 alight on the bench. 



Early one season a few sauirrels settled 

 in a large fir tree opposite the librarv win- 

 dow where I taught my pupils. The grass 

 was always kept short and the squirrels 

 amused themselves by leaping on and off 

 the boughs, which drooled to within a 

 few feet of the ground. Occasionally a 

 male blackbird, who seemed to live not far 

 away, would hop under the same tree and 

 pick up insects or worms from the ground. 

 If seen by the large squirrels of this little 

 colony he was pursued and had to leave 

 the grounds. One morning we observed the 

 blackbird had this little space all to him- 

 self for a much longer time than usual. 

 He had settled down on .his breast and was 

 picking in the closely mown turf to his 

 heart's content. On the bough right over 

 him I saw a squirrel almost motionless, 

 but apparently studying out from what po- 

 sition it could drop on the blackbird. At 

 last it dropped its paws around the bird so 



as to cover it completely and kept it so 4 

 or 5 seconds. After what appeared a fierce 

 struggle the bird escaped, leaving a few 

 feathers flying. We never saw the black- 

 bird under the tree again and the squirrel 

 seemed satisfied that no further intrusion 

 would occur.. 



W. J. Fleming, New York City. 



A CITY BIRD COLONY. 



Since writing you last my bluebirds suc- 

 cessfully reared a brood of young, 5 or 6 

 in all. I only saw 4 together on my oak 

 tree, but I think there were one or 2 more, 

 as I noticed one that appeared larger and 

 stronger than the 4 and left the house a day 

 or 2 earlier. Both the old and young blue- 

 birds make daily visits to my yard. 



June 17 a male house wren appeared 

 and started to build a nest in the blue- 

 birds' abode in spite of the vigorous pro- 

 tests of the former occupants. They made 

 swift dashes at the wren on numerous oc- 

 casions, but the latter easilv got out of 

 reach, kept on singing and nest building, 

 and finally succeeded in blockading the en- 

 trance with small sticks or twigs, effectually 

 excluding any bird larger than a wren. The 

 wren was alone for over a week, and I 

 thought it would be the old storv of the 

 past 2 years, when throughout the whole 

 season only a male bird was about. How- 

 ever, a few days ago Jenny appeared and 

 the female is now completing the nest. 



The bluebirds, who appeared to wish to 

 renest in their house, have given up the 

 idea, and are going into a flower pot house. 

 I hope they will raise another brood, as thev 

 certainly have' ample time before cold 

 weather, 



I have a pair of tree swallows. Their 

 brood left the house yesterday, June 29. 

 The old birds appear to wish to renest, 

 though they are said to raise only one 

 brood in a season. 



I also have 40 purple martins, about 1=; 

 pairs of which have young. The old birds 

 must destroy millions of insects, as they 

 find the food in the air and feed the young 

 from daylight to dark. 



All these birds find homes on a city lot. 

 35 x 127 feet. All I do is to provide them 

 boxes and protect them from the English 

 sparrows. 



An English sparrow will stand about 

 everything except being shot at. A good 

 air gun solves the problem nicely, makes 

 little noise, but does the work. 



Frederick Wahl, Milwaukee, Wis. 



NOT ONE REDEEMING TRAIT. 

 At last some one has been found to say a good 

 word for the English sparrow. According to a 

 report from Washington, the sparrows in that city 

 have been devouring the 17-year locusts, and 

 in this way have prevented their great spread. 



