f interesting birds. Not that I expect to write their complete
life histories, which, indeed, would not be necessary; but that I may
give you some idea of the large amount of knowledge that can be gained
of one species. If this were multiplied by the knowledge procurable
from the study of all the members of the feathered brotherhood, think
what an education the whole would give one. Let us begin with the
familiar little tomtit.

In his valuable manual, "Birds of Eastern North America," Dr. Frank M.
Chapman calls the little black-capped chickadee an "animated bunch of
black and white feathers." That is certainly a graphic and correct way
of putting it, for no bird is more active and alert than this little
major with the black skull cap and ashy-blue coat. Everybody knows
him, I take it, but if any more points are needed for his
identification, you must look for a little bird which, in addition to
his cap of glossy black, wears a bib of the same color, buckled up
close to his chin, with a wedge of white inserted on each side of his
neck between the black of his throat and crown to the corner of his
mouth.

If all birds were as sociably disposed as the little tomtit--for that
is also one of his names--bird study would be a delight, and almost a
sinecure. Trustful and fearless, he often comes within a few feet of
you, and fixes you with his keen little eyes, which dart out
innumerable interrogation points. Sometimes he calls his own name in a
saucy way, "Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee," which, being
interpreted, means, "What is your business here, sir? Aren't you out
of your proper latitude?" Occasionally he will grow terribly excited
over your presence--or at least pretend to--scolding and shaming you
until you feel yourself a real interloper; at other times he will
salute you in the most affable way, as if bidding you welcome to his
haunts and inviting you to come often and make yourself at home. What
a pity it is he cannot talk, and let us know what he really thinks of
us and of the world in general! Dr. Chapman says that on two occasions
chickadees have flown down and perched on his hand, giving him the
feeling that he was being taken into their confidence.

Watch Master Tomtit as he performs some of his acrobatic feats, putting
the tilters and tumblers in the human circus to the blush. He often
hangs back downward from a slender twig or even a leaf, and daintily
picks the nits that have ensconced thems