The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-24
Winter Birds On the Porch
THE VALIANT TITAOUsE


0ut-Her0ds al others IN being tyrannical.
With a sharp. twisted note OF rage ne
drives every bird from tbs table. 10 enjoy
his pleasure in solitude. No utm0use Of
fers 20 stand out against his fellow, they
recognize that they are Greek and Greek,
and az the msrest demonstration OF fght
the frst-coTer gives way 10 the second.
One such feathered tyrant pursues a chick
adee from the table 10 the walnut bag.
dislodges him there, follows him 20 the
almond bag. and, after displacing him
again instantly drives him from the blue
bucket
EVEN Ihe. tiGnouse meets his match in
that odd persQnage. the nuthatch. With
determined mien and widespread wings
the latter aesans all obstacles with his
long spiked beak and titmouse Is van
ouished among them The nuthatch. In
bis slIst OF lovely blue is yet a weird Iook-
ing character. with his slant, squat legs
and exaggerated headpiece- He resembles
q duck as he meanderS-always obliquely-
across the table. His lack OF tail seems
10 ambulance hlns vet he hangs. head down.
wards, and digs at suet ten minutes at
time He scatters large bits OF the white
fat on table and ground. and sometimes
follows after Often, however, Rufus. the
collie. chances 10 spy II. and quickly ap-
propriates IL Then ne. too. gazes wistful-
tiOns, and. standing on his hind legs, runs
his long nose sidewise along the table and
secures another morsel of fat Three wise
dOminick hens, taking a stately afternoon
walk. rise 10 the occasion-and the table
birds.
Meanwhile. the cracker-of-nuts yearus for
more intimate acquaintance with her guests.
and ventures upon the porch itself where
much excitement ensues and she Is en-
veloped in a mad rush Of wings Titmice.
chickadePs. even the nuthatch. become
discOncerted-and they sc0ldl Downy does
not swerve from his suet on the pine, while
the brown creeper ever in pursuit OF that
lost something. hunts blindiy over the deal
table. The nut-eracker remains motionless
in the corner beyond the walnut bag. The
nuthatch makes several wild curves to-
wards the couch. while titmice and chicka-
dees fy wildly hither and thitner through
the porch. Some go TO the gourd and the
bucket, which seem safely distant, and at
last one cOnhding little titmouse approaches
the dreaded corner. by short flights. From
the almond bag TO the hammock hook and
thence 10 the bag of walnuts, close TO her
face, he fits; and there clingiug, he alter
nately nibbes and stares braVely into her
eyes. At the same time another bold COM
rade hastily secures a nut from the table
close TO the other side.
The nut-cracker next removes the bucket
and sits beside IL on the couch Again
the wings rush to and fro, and flight OF
small birds seem about TO bear the little
house aloft. Little feet patter over the
couch and floor, but more discreet wings
bear them hastily away. Then. looping
across from the edge of the distant woods.
comes a utmouse straight TO the bucket.
without pause. whence he eyes the nut
cracker valorously, and regains the wood
swiftly with a nut in his bill. When he
returns, he flies directly at the face of the
intruder. but she shrinks back timorously
with surprise. and he hops TO the bucket.
Again he perches moment upon her skirt.
en- route 10 the bucket. This time an en-
viOus kinsman dashes at him savagely. so
that he circles and alights upon the nut
crackers knee. She has now drawn the
bucket close within her arm. but this par
ticularly heroic scrap of valor' seems un-
mindful of the hand upon the side OF it, He
actually turns his back and tastes the nut
before hieing joyfully away with it-hotly
pursued by another titmOuse.