88 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
follow US, and I am sure if I had not at once 
flown away, I should have been shot. So 
much for man’s ingratitude.” 
Yes,” answered the Chick-a-dee who had 
first spoken : my adventure was somewhat 
similar. It was in this wise. It was during 
a warm day in the latter part of last June, 
that, as I was flying about in an old huckle- 
berry pasture, in search of food, I discovered, 
lying on a moss-covered rock, under the shade 
of a huge chestnut, a man who had lain down 
and fallen asleep. I alighted in the tree to 
take a good look at him, for you know we 
Chick-a-dees are all curious bodies, and like to 
know all that is going on. I had scarcely 
reached the tree when I discovered, slowly 
moving in the direction of the man, an enor- 
mous rattle-snake, much larger than the one 
that came near catching old Mr. Ohick-a-dee 
here last summer ; you remember, do you 
not ? ” he asked of his neighbor. 
Yes,” answered the other ; and I shall 
not soon forget the fright I had.” 
Well,” continued the speaker, ‘^^my first 
