Cambridge, Mass.
1899.
January.
(No. 7).
the same independent yet friendly spirit which they display
towards most other small birds. Their numbers apparently
varied from day to day but the first flock evidently contained
ten birds although only twice during the month were they all
seen together. I suspected, however, that most of them really
visited the suet daily, coming singly or in parties from
 two to five or six. One member of the flock was wholly des-
titute of a tail and was accordingly christened (By Walter)
"Sine cauda". When several birds appeared in company they
usually ate singly, each awaiting his turn with evident impa-
tience but great good temper and when his opportunity came
flitting to the coveted perch the instant his predecessor va-
cated it. Apparently there was some understanding among them
as to the maximum length of time during which each bird might
occupy it for they changed places very frequently usually once
every two minutes or less. The same bird, however, often re-
turned more than once before his appetite was appeased.
  Occasionally two birds would alight on the suet at once;
if on opposite sides or one at the top, the other clinging
back downward beneath, neither seemed to object to the other's
presence - possibly because it was not noticed - but if side
by side a short but spirited contest for exclusive possession
invariably occurred. Twice, however, I saw a Chickadee and an
7