The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-24

all that little company of birds
which frequents the cottage porch
kyTsSsz.k in winter, none is SO daring, none
kg so much It home, as the tufted
titmouse: in truth, he seems quite
to take upon himself the character Of host,
and 10 say when all others shall come and
go. The little porch. with its store OF nuts.
is given over 10 all who may come. but TO
himself the titmouse pre-empts the largest
share of its hospitality. This decisive &C
ton may. indeed, be due 10 The kpowieoge
that his kind are in the maJOrity-thoush.
TO be quite fair. the gathering is plentiful
~ besprinkled with chickadees Lsng ago,
however, this meek little cousin OF the TIT
mouse yielded him undisputed supremacy
in all matters where their Interests
clashed. SO-by leave of the titmouse-wlO
IS numerously represented, himself. an equal
company Of chlckadecs. pair OF white
breasted nuthatChes several dOwny wood
peckers. a pair of Bewick wrens, a pair
OF Carolina wrens, and brown creeper
tnrong about the cottage and its guardian
pine tree habitually.
For such exclusive natures as downy
woodpecker and the brown creeper. the
tree trunk is decked with cocoanut
doughnut imDaled on a nail, and square
OF suet; and on the deal table against II
cracked nuts are sometimes scattered. But
the secondary object OF the feast being 70
draw the birds toward the house more ir-
reSistible alurements pertain 10 the porch
High in one corner is blue bucket filled
with walnuts, while just opposite, close to
the ceiling is a gOurd full of pecanS Mid
way between the bucket and the door hangs
a netted bag OF almond kernels, and sec
0nd bag. of walnut meats. bangles from
against second door is a shallow pan Of
hickory nuts. A withered mOOnYine still
clings all about the top of the porch. and
the birds swing from its long tendrils and
reconnoiter before hopping to the long
couch of mating or to the stepladder
which at times stands below the bucket.
Many times a day the little flock gathers
here and feasts-happily but not quite
peacefully. They appear 10 come in waves.
1t is as If one titmOuse said to another,
There's nuts at the house." and they fair
ly tumble over each other in their haste 10
be first followed by all their woodland
intimates." Then game of pussy wants
a corner enlivens the porch. Needless it
is TO say that it is invariably the cunning
chickadee who Is left ''it." But with visit
full looks this atom of ''ashes and JET goes
from pillar to post awaiting his chance, TO
which he clings steadfastly when il comes.
he has been known to come all alone TO
the spot and gnaw at the almond bag twen-
ty minutes continuously, but if the cracker
of-nuts is on the porch there is no louder.
more spirited protest than that uttered by
chickadee. He may be long-sufferng, but
he is not silent 1t requires extreme bra
vado he thinks, TO go a-nutting on the lit
tie table while the face of the nut era cker
is pressed against the glass door so very
near--but nuts he must have. At times that
presence makes him so very nervous that
he drops the nut TO the floor with great
clatter. whereuDon a saucy titmouse is
sure 10 plump down, too. and get il. There
Is one fearless chickadee, who plants his
feet wide apart in the pan and looks up at
the nut-cracker within the door with a
cheering note. Then he turns his back and
digs the kernel out of the big shell so cum
ningly held between his feet. The poor wren
Is not so smart: talent for clasping
things with her feet has she, and so pursues
her nut across the porch floor in such a
ridiculous manner that she alone fails to
appreciate. One titmouse there is too who