BIRDS AND ALL NATURE. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. VOL. V. MARCH, 1899. NO. 3 CONTENTS. Page THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. 97 EPITAPH ON THE HARE. 98 A TRANSIENT BOARDER. 101 THE SQUIRREL'S USE OF HIS TAIL. 103 THE NORTHERN PRAIRIE HARE. 107 DESTRUCTION OF BIRD LIFE. 109 WE BELIEVE IT. 109 THE PINEAPPLE. 110 LITTLE BUSYBODIES. 113 THE CHARITY OF BREAD CRUMBS. 115 THE HOODED MERGANSER. 119 THE TRUMPETERS. 120 CLOVES. 121 A VEIN OF HUMOR. 125 TAMING THE SMALLER WILD ANIMALS. 127 THE WOODCHUCK. 131 FLOWERS WITH HORNS AND CLAWS. 132 THE COMMON AMERICAN MOLE. 133 THE OAK. 134 SKIN. 137 THE AZALEA. 143 COMMENDABLE BOOKS. 143 THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. (_Parus bicolor._) LYNDS JONES. How vividly a first meeting with some interesting species rests in the memory of the bird-lover! It was at the evening twilight of October 14, 1886, that a strange whistle rang through that gem of woods near Grinnell, Iowa, which has witnessed the birth of more than one passion for bird study. Soon the busy gleaner came to inquire after the intruder on his chosen feeding grounds, evidently looking for a suitable resting-place for the night while taking his evening lunch. The voice, the actions, the appearance, all were new to me, and every movement was watched with breathless interest lest the next flight should take the bird away beyond recall. At last he settled in a green-briar tangle, carefully stowed himself away beneath a huge linden leaf, whistled once or twice, and was ready for the coming darkness. Never before nor since have I seen the tufted tit in that Iowa grove, but he is one of the common resident birds at Oberlin, Ohio. Northern Ohio is about the northern limit of his range, which extends into northern New Jersey and southern Iowa, possibly the southern half of Iowa. He ranges west to the eastern border of the plains, occasionally found as far north as Minnesota and well into Michigan, and is found breeding even to the Gulf of Mexico southward. He appears to be resident wherever found, but no doubt a few venturesome individuals may wander farther north than the usual range.