Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of AmericaAudubon, John James
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Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America
Audubon, John James
Birds -- North America
The Black-cap Titmouse, or Chickadee, as it is generally named in our
Eastern States, though exceedingly shy in summer or during the breeding
season, becomes quite familiar in winter, although it never ventures
to enter the habitations of man; but in the most boisterous weather,
requiring neither food nor shelter there, it may be seen amidst the
snow in the rugged paths of the cheerless woods, where it welcomes
the traveller or the woodcutter with a confidence and cheerfulness far
surpassing the well-known familiarity of the Robin Redbreast of Europe.
Often, on such occasions, should you offer it, no matter how small
a portion of your fare, it alights without hesitation, and devours
it without manifesting any apprehension. The sound of an axe in the
woods is sufficient to bring forth several of these busy creatures,
and having discovered the woodman, they seem to find pleasure in his
company. If, as is usually the case, he is provided with a dinner,
the Chickadee at once evinces its anxiety to partake of it, and loses
no opportunity of accomplishing its object, although it sets about
it with much circumspection, as if it were afraid of being detected,
and brought to punishment, A woodcutter in Maine assured me, that one
day he happened to be at work, and had scarcely hung up his basket of
provisions, when it was observed by a flock of these birds, which,
having gathered into it at once, attacked a piece of cold beef; but
after each peck, he saw their heads raised above the edge, as if to
guard against the least appearance of danger. After picking until they
were tired or satisfied, they left the basket and perched directly
over his fire, but out of the direction of the smoke. There they sat
enjoying themselves and ruffling their feathers to allow the warmth
more easy access to their skin, until he began his dinner, when they
immediately alighted near him, and in the most plaintive tones seemed
to solicit a portion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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