The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-18
OIIR WINTER BIRDS.
Feed Them and Make Friends With
 Them.


 There is one exception to the winter birds who take life eiously. The chickadee, or black-capped t1tmouse' who never deserts us, IS one or the most joyous of the feathered tribe Ills witching ways, his dauntless braVlns of the weather his undertaking cheer fitness under all circumstances, are well pictured by Emerson in ms familiar poem. During the months when the air Is full of bird notes thls little fellow takes no very marked part in the grand chorus, but no sooner do they begin to drop off than he comes to the front, his plaintive-sounding 'pe-wee'' becomes noticeable, and ms cheery voice greets us everywhere All the members of the titmouse tamliy' European as well as American, SHOW peculiar traits-merry voices, tehd- ency to quaint antics, irrepresslple en- ergy, and fearlessness or fondness Tor man. The warblers, though hteWlse small and full of life, are in every way different Another bird who makes himself and us happy through the winter is the American goldfnch. Clad in sober, inconspicuous garments these birds unite in hocks and feed on the seeds of weedes and grains.
 One cannot help wondering where these and our other feathered nelSLpois pass the cold, clustering nights or thls season. Owls, we know, and Wooa- peckers, as well as chickadees' nave comfortable bed rooms in trees hhs fish sparrows have intrenched them selves in snug corners about our pul'u- ings. under the roofs of railway statohs and warehouses, even in the pointed caps over our electric lights. some or our ground-loving winter res'ueii.7 delye under the snow or ina llttle V7li17 where piles of brush have kept u up The robin. when he stays with us' creeps into the thckest branches or H'h evergreen tree. No doubt many Of our winter friends, such as nuthatches' kinglets, brown creepers ana "iene' take possession of deserted Wooopechel nests. But where does the goldlilich sleep? What keeps the brave meaaow lark from freezing? Who prepares d chamber for the bluejay. It IS Tar more surprising that birds stay with us through the winter than that they go to a more general climate. what can induce the possessors of wings to praVe the cold and hunger, when IL must pe with difficulty that they can Keep llle currents flowing especially when 1oou ia scarce or covered with snow or sleet' Now we have opportunity to do some thing toward their support. We may, each one of us, in one little spot at
 n be abundantly repaid in the pleasure or watching their interesting ana quaih. ways. not to speak of the greatlul colony we shall have about us when thev no longer need our aid. Persons who have tried the plan of feeding plros everv day-as one is bound in honor to do if he begins it-have found It great pleasure as well as help to knowing these interesting fellow crea- lures. So much has been written about methods of carrying out this plan that if is not necessary to repeat.
 will merely say, it should be done rneularlv. not only every day, but at the same hour. For birds will soon learn to expect 1t and to depend on i,, and forgetting or negiecting IL VIII cause suffering and probably oeatn' Also I will add that they will eat al most anything eatable that is small enough to swallow or soft enough to be necked apart. The harm of close acouaintance with our beautiful little neiehbors. the happiness of winning their confidence and meeting the frank and fearless glance of their eyes their touching dependence on our bounty ana their Joyous thanks Of song ana chat- fer these are delights that must be ex- perjenced to be understood,
 favorite winter bird of New Eng land and the eastern states is that h,,,liant little brother, the bluejay.
 "No birds remain of all that love the
 sun
 And winter tents upon the bills or
 Maine,
 Then. loyal to their homes, in many
 band
 Their blue wings flash through winters
 buffeting days
 Lively, jolly, with no dignity to re- strain him. full of chatter and calls, he does much to fill the landscape ana make up for the many absences. He least of all the winter res dents could be spared He always seems well red and happy. No matter that food IS scarce, he does not nope and draw on ones sympathy. His silken dlaperies seem always fresh, his crest always alert and saucy, his voice always in tune. The northern shrike, on the contrary, is a bird of dignity. He would sit and calmly starve to death, if sta.rve he must, but he would never complain Nor could he be guilty or such antics as delights us in the blue iay. No frolic, no shriek of joy or run ever come from him. Getting his liv- ing is a business matter to be treated seriously, in winter no less than in summer. Yet he can unbend and be not only a thoughtful and careful guardian of his household, but sweet singer wooer, tender spouse and hard-working provider. In different way from the bluejay he is equally beautiful, with silky dove-colored plumage set off with black.
 Retired swamps where foliage is 4Liolx oro f,vorite Dla cas for the winter