Dryo bates uubeseens . 
Concord, Mass. 
1397. On April 1st. I hung up some pieces of mutton fat in the 
April. oaks about my cabin. The Chickadees found it at once and came 
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to it regularly thereafter. A Red-bellied Nuthatch also came 
occasionally. On April 9th, a male Downy came and not a day 
passed after this when he did not visit it from one to five 
or six times, apparently eating his fill at each visit. He " 
j 
invariably alighted first on the branch just above the fat, 
perching crosswise and looking keenly about in every dircetion 
for a minute or more, evidently to make sure that no danger 
threatened. Once satisfied on this score, he gave hinself up 
wholly. to the pleasure of his meal, clinging woodpecker fash- 
ion to the surface of the strip fat and digging out large 
mouthfuls by a succession of vigorous pecks. 
On May 1st, he appeared in company with a mate, this be- 
ing the first occasion on which we saw a female near the 
place. I noticed that the male came oftener during stormy 
than in clear weather . One very rainy day he appeared and fed 
lustily no less than six times (and probably more). His plu- 
mage on this occasion was sadly bedraggled and completely 
water-soaked. 
