ociably　with　the　sparrows　and　chickadees　about　the　kitchen　door；　will　pick　up　scraps　of　food　with　an　intimacy　quite　touching　in　a　bird　naturally　rather　shy。　Here　we　can　readily　distinguish　these　〃little　gray…robed　monks　and　nuns；〃　as　Miss　Florence　Merriam　calls　them。
  They　are　trim；　sprightly；　sleek；　and　even　natty；　their　dispositions　are　genial　and　vivacious；　not　quarrelsome；　like　their　sparrow　cousins；　and　what　is　perhaps　best　about　them；　they　are　birds　we　may　surely　depend　upon　seeing　in　the　winter　months。　A　few　come　forth　in　September；　migrating　at　night　from　the　deep　woods　of　the　north；　where　they　have　nested　and　moulted　during　the　summer；　but　not　until　frost　has　sharpened　the　air　are　large　numbers　of　them　seen。　Rejoicing　in　winter；　they　nevertheless　do　not　revel　in　the　deep　and　fierce　arctic　blasts；　as　the　snowflakes　do；　but　take　good　care　to　avoid　the　open　pastures　before　the　hard　storms　overtake　them。
  Early　in　the　spring　their　song　is　sometimes　heard　before　they　leave　us　to　woo　and　to　nest　in　the　north。　Mr。　Bicknell　describes　it　as　〃a　crisp　call…note；　a　simple　trill；　and　a　faint；　whispered　warble；　usually　much　broken；　but　not　without　sweetness。〃
  WHITE…BREASTED　NUTHATCH　（Sitta　carolinensis）　Nuthatch　family
  Called　also：　TREE…MOUSE；　DEVIL　DOWNHEAD
  Length　　5。5　to　6　inches。　A　trifle　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　slate…color。　Top　of　head　and　nape　　　black。　Wings　dark　slate；　edged　with　black；　that　fades　to　brown。　　　Tail　feathers　brownish　black；　with　white　bars。　Sides　of　head　　　and　underneath　white；　shading　to　pale　reddish　under　the　tail。　　　（Female's　head　leaden。）　Body　flat　and　compact。　Bill　longer　than　　　head。　Range　　British　provinces　to　Mexico。　Eastern　United　States。　Migrations　　October。　April。　Common　resident。　Most　prominent　in　　　winter。
  〃Shrewd　little　haunter　of　woods　all　gray；　　　　Whom　I　meet　on　my　walk　of　a　winter　day　　　　　　You're　busy　inspecting　each　cranny　and　hole　　　　In　the　ragged　bark　of　yon　hickory　bole；　　　　You　intent　on　your　task；　and　I　on　the　law　　　　Of　your　wonderful　head　and　gymnastic　claw！
  The　woodpecker　well　may　despair　of　this　feat　　　　　　Only　the　fly　with　you　can　compete！　　　　So　much　is　clear；　but　I　fain　would　know　　　　How　you　can　so　reckless　and　fearless　go；　　　　Head　upward；　head　downward；　all　one　to　you；　　　　Zenith　and　nadir　the　same　in　your　view？〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Edith　M。　Thomas。
  Could　a　dozen　lines　well　contain　a　fuller　description　or　more　apt　characterization　of　a　bird　than　these　〃To　a　Nuthatch〃？
  With　more　artless　inquisitiveness　than　fear；　this　lively　little　acrobat　stops　his　hammering　or　hatcheting　at　your　approach；　and　stretching　himself　out　from　the　tree　until　it　would　seem　he　must　fall　off；　he　peers　down　at　you；　head　downward；　straight　into　your　upturned　opera…glasses。　If　there　is　too　much　snow　on　the　upper　side　of　a　branch；　watch　how　he　runs　along　underneath　it　like　a　fly；　busily　tapping　the　bark；　or　adroitly　breaking　the　decayed　bits　with　his　bill；　as　he　searches　for　the　spider's　eggs；　larvae；　etc。；　hidden　there；　yet　somehow；　between　mouthfuls；　managing　to　call　out　his　cheery　quank！　quank！　hank！　hank！
  Titmice　and　nuthatches；　which　have　many　similar　characteristics；　are　often　seen　in　the　most　friendly　hunting　parties　on　the　same　tree。　A　pine　woods　is　their　dearest　delight。　There；　as　the　mercury　goes　down；　their　spirits　only　seem　to　go　up　higher。　In　the　spring　they　have　been　thought　by　many　to　migrate　in　flocks；　whereas　they　are　only　retreating　with　their　relations　away　from　the　haunts　of　men　to　the　deep；　cool　woods；　where　they　nest。　With　infinite　patience　the　nuthatch　excavates　a　hole　in　a　tree；　lining　it　with　feathers　and　moss；　and　often　depositing　as　many　as　ten　white　eggs　speckled　with　red　and　lilac）　for　a　single　brood。
  RED…BREASTED　NUTHATCH　（Sitta　canadensis）　Nuthatch　family
  Called　also：　CANADA　NUTHATCH
  Length　　4　to　4。75　inches。　One…third　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　　Lead…colored　above；　brownish　on　wings　and　tail。　Head；　　　neck；　and　stripe　passing　through　eye　to　shoulder；　black。　　　Frontlet；　chin；　and　shoulders　white；　also　a　white　stripe　over　　　eye；　meeting　on　brow。　Under　parts　light；　rusty　red。　Tail　　　feathers　barred　with　white　near　end；　and　tipped　with　pale　　　brown。　Female　　Has　crown　of　brownish　black；　and　is　lighter　beneath　　　than　male。　Range　　Northern　parts　of　North　America。　Not　often　seen　south　of　　　the　most　northerly　States。　Migrations　　November。　April。　Winter　resident。
  The　brighter　coloring　of　this　tiny；　hardy　bird　distinguishes　from　the　other　and　larger　nuthatch；　with　whom　it　is　usually　seen；　for　the　winter　birds　have　a　delightfully　social　manner；　so　that　a　colony　of　these　Free　masons　is　apt　to　contain　not　only　both　kinds　of　nuthatches　and　chickadees；　but　kinglets　and　brown　creepers　as　well。　It　shares　the　family　habit　of　walking　about　the　trees；　head　downward；　and　running　along　the　under　side　of　limbs　like　a　fly。　By　Thanksgiving　Day　the　quank！　quank！　of　the　white…breasted　species　is　answered　by　the　tai…tai…tait！　of　the　red…breasted　cousin　in　the　orchard；　where　the　family　party　is　celebrating　with　an　elaborate　menu　of　slugs；　insects'　eggs；　and　oily　seeds　from　the　evergreen　trees。
  For　many　years　this　nuthatch；　a　more　northern　species　than　the　white…breasted　bird；　was　thought　to　be　only　a　spring　and　autumn　visitor；　but　latterly　it　is　credited　with　habits　like　its　congener's　in　nearly　every　particular。
  LOGGERHEAD　SHRIKE　（Lanius　ludovicianus）　Shrike　family
  Length　　8。5　to　9　inches。　A　little　smaller　than　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　gray；　narrow　black　line　across　　　forehead；　connecting　small　black　patches　on　sides　of　head　at　　　base　of　bill。　Wings　and　tail　black；　plentifully　marked　with　　　white；　the　outer　tail　feathers　often　being　entirely　white　and　　　conspicuous　in　flight。　Underneath　white　or　very　light　gray。　　　Bill　hooked　and　hawk…like。　Range　　Eastern　United　States　to　the　plains。　Migrations　　May。　October。　Summer　resident。
  It　is　not　easy；　even　at　a　slight　distance；　to　distinguish　the　loggerhead　from　the　Northern　shrike。　Both　have　the　pernicious　habit　of　killing　insects　and　smaller　birds　and　impaling　them　on　thorns；　both　have　the　peculiarity　of　flying；　with　strong；　vigorous　flight　and　much　wing…flapping；　close　along　the　ground；　then　suddenly　rising　to　a　tree；　on　the　lookout　for　prey。　Their　harsh；　unmusical　call…notes　are　similar　too；　and　their　hawk…like　method　of　dropping　suddenly　upon　a　victim　on　the　ground　below　is　identical。　Indeed；　the　same　description　very　nearly　answers　for　both　birds。　But　there　is　one　very　important　difference。　While　the　Northern　shrike　is　a　winter　visitor；　the　loggerhead；　being　his　Southern　counterpart；　does　not　arrive　until　after　the　frost　is　out　of　the　ground；　and　he　can　be　sure　of　a　truly　warm　welcome。　A　lesser　distiction　between　the　only　two　representatives　of　the　shrike　family　that　frequent　our　neighborhood　　and　they　are　two　too　many　　is　in　the　smaller　size　of　the　loggerhead　and　its　lighter…gray　plumage。　But　as　both　these　birds　select　some　high　commanding　position；　like　a　distended　branch　near　the　tree…top；　a　cupola；　house…peak；　lightning…rod；　telegraph　wire；　or　　weather…vane；　the　better　to　detect　a　passing　dinner；　it　would　be　quite　impossible　at　such　a　distance　to　know　which　shrike　was　sitting　up　there　silently　plotting　villainies；　without　remembering　the　season　when　each　may　be　expected。
  NORTHERN　SHRIKE　（Lanius　borealis）　Shrike　family
  Called　also：　BUTCHER…BIRD；　NINE…KILLER
  Length　　9。5　to　10。5　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　robin。　Male　　Upper　parts　slate…gray；　wing　quills　and　tail　black；　　　edged　and　tipped　with　white；　conspicuous　in　flight；　a　white　　　spot　on　centre　of　outer　wing　feathers。　A　black　band　runs　　　from　bill；　through　eye　to　side　of　throat。　Light　gray　below；　　　tinged　with　brownish；　and　faintly　marked　with　waving　lines　　　of　darker　gray。　Bill　hooked　and　hawk…like。　Female　　With　eye…band　more　obscure　than　male's；　and　with　　　More　distinct　brownish　cast　on　her　plumage。　Range　　Northern　North　America。　South　in　winter　to　middle　　　Portion　of　United　States。　Migrations　　November；　April。　A　roving　winter　resident。
  〃Matching　the　bravest　of　the　brave　among　birds　of　prey　in　deeds　of　daring；　and　no　less　relentless　than　reckless；　the　shrike　compels　that　sort　of　deference；　not　unmixed　with　indignation；　we　are　accustomed　to　accord　to　creatures　of　seeming　insignificance　whose　exploits　demand　much　strength；　great　spirit；　and　insatiate　love　for　carnage。　We　cannot　be　indifferent　to　the　marauder　who　takes　his　own　wherever　he　finds　it　　a　feudal　baron　who　holds　his　own　with　undisputed　sway　　and　an　ogre　whose　victims　are　so　many　more　than　he　can　eat；　that　he　actually　keeps　a　private　graveyard　for　the　balance。〃　Who　is　honestly　able　to　give　the　shrikes　a　better　character　than　Dr。　Coues；　just　quoted？　A　few　offer　them　questionable　defence　by　recording　the　large　numbers　of　English　sparrows　they　kill　in　a　season；　as　if　wanton　carnage　were　ever　justifiable。
  Not　even　a　hawk　itself　can　produce　the　consternation　among　a　flock　of　sparrows　that　the　harsh；　rasping　voice　of　the　butcherbird　creates；　for　escape　they　well　know　to　be　difficult　before　the　small　ogre　swoops　down　upon　his　victim；　and　carries　it　off　to　impale　it　on　a　thorn　or　frozen　twig；　there　to　de