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 46 Bird - Lore

could not lack for food. We saw little more of them that day, but next morning at sunrise l was awakened by the ﬂute notes of hungry young Bluebirds, There they all were. clamoring for mealworms, and they all came to the hand to feed. For about three weeks they remained in the neighborhood, and a whistle or two would bring them down to our hands. A young Chipping Sparrow, while it never came to feed, was always seen with the Bluebirds, I had hopes that by feeding abun- dantlyl might be able to hold them through the winter and soon have a colony of tame Bluebirds: but about September 20 they suddenly disap- peared. I thought they had started on their long journey. but two weeks later the three Bluebirds, with Chippy still in tow. came back. as it would seem, to bid ﬁnal adieu. They all came to the hand as before, but meal- worms seemed to have lost their attraction somewhat: for they, for the ﬁrst time, left some uneaten. Except for here and there a telletale feather, they now looked like adult birds. Since that day we have neither seen not heard them, but we still cherish the hope that spring may bring them to us

again.

I'EEDING THE ORI‘H.\\S