seen anything like so much excrement under a bird’s nest 
of any kind^ 
As I was strolling through the pines behind Ball* 
Hill Just before dinner, I heard a Chickadee making the 
low, feeble tee- e-e-e peculiar to this season. The bird, 
an adult in shockingly worn and faded plumage, presently 
appeared and I stopped to watch it. It approached by 
short flights and hops until it reached a twig within 
less than two feet of my face. Here, balancing itself 
on the slender, swaying spray, it remained for a minute 
or more, uttering its peevish cries incessantly. At 
length I advanced my hand slowly until my forefinger 
was with i n an inch of the bird's head when it suddenly 
took alarm and dashed off through the woods. 
At evening as I was returning to Ball’s Hill 
through Pine Park, I heard Blue Jays screaming near at 
hand. On going to the spot I found that there were at 
least a dozen of them assembled among the branches of a 
dense young pine, where they were evidently intending to 
pass the night. Suddenly one of them was seized and 
borne off through the tree-tops by I know not what, but 
probably by a Hawk, The unfortunate bird gave one loud 
Jay scream and then a long succession of agonized cries 
growing gradually fainter and fainter. The marauder, 
whatever he was, v/as closely pursued by the whole flock 
of Jays whose combined clamor was almost deafening. 
