,a ,,manual ,,of ,,bird ,,study ,a ,description of ,twenty-five ,local ,birds with ,study ,outlines ,,william ,h4 ,,carr ,assistant ,curator1 ,department of ,education ,school ,service ,series--,number ,one ,third ,edition1 ,march1 #aicd ,department of ,education ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history #ggth ,street and ,central ,park ,west ,new ,york ,city ,,circulating ,,nature ,,collections ,,of ,,birds ,,in ,,the ,,american ,,museum ,,of ,,natural ,,history ,this ,bird ,study ,manual is intended especially for the use of teachers and pupils in the ,new ,york ,city ,schools4 ,it is written primarily to describe the birds contained in the circulating nature study collections which the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history loans to public schools4 ,however it may be used as a general guide to bird study as well4 ,the various study outlines tell the story of different projects that may be developed in connection with birds4 ,typical birds are illustrated4 ,as much as is possible in the life history of each bird is given4 ,the bird poems may be used in connection with the study of ,english4 ,the study of birds may very well be correlated with the studies of many other subjects such as ,civics1 ,geography and other topics4 ,the purpose of the loan collections of birds and other animals in the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history is to place in the hands of teachers good material for classroom instruction1 ,at the same time authoritative data is given with each collection4 ,these loan collections are available for any teacher in any school in ,greater ,new ,york4 ,the method of obtaining these collections has been made the simplest possible as far as the teachers are concerned4 ,at least once a year 7in ,september71 and sometimes twice a year1 a return postal card is mailed to every school principal in the ,city system1 ,all that the principal has to do to obtain the collections is to indicate by numerals the sequence in which he wants the collections delivered1 signing his name and school number4 ,the ,museum messengers will then deliver the collections1 and call for them1 without any more effort on the part of the schools4 ,the entire cost of this service is borne by the ,museum4 ,teachers are urged1 whenever possible1 to bring their classes to the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history1 at #ggth ,street and ,central ,park ,west1 to take advantage of the opportunities for further study that are offered4 ,in the many halls of birds and animals1 the home life and the general habitat of the creatures are given in detail4 ,there is a free guide service for teachers and pupils4 ,also there are classes for school children held in the new ,school ,service ,building4 ,in fact1 the wealth of natural history study material is always there1 available in many ways for the use of all who desire to further their knowledge of the animals of the out-of-doors4 ,applications for these collections and for further information should be addressed to ,the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history1 #ggth ,street and ,central ,park ,west1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,george ,h4 ,sherwood1 ,curator-in-,chief ,department of ,public ,education ,the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history has five collections of birds to lend to ,public ,schools4 ,these five are3 ,the ,bluebird ,set ,bluebird--,phoebe--,barn ,swallow--,house ,wren--,chimney ,swift4 ,the ,owl ,set ,chickadee--,nuthatch--,song ,sparrow--,screech ,owl--,kinglet4 ,the ,robin ,set ,robin--,red-winged ,blackbird--,baltimore ,oriole--,chipping ,sparrow--,meadowlark4 ,the ,blue ,jay ,set ,blue ,jay--,downy ,woodpeckcr--,starling--,junco--,english ,sparrow--,crossbill4 ,the ,scarlet ,tanager ,set ,scarlet ,tanager--,red-eyed ,vireo--,goldfinch--,hummingbird--,pigeo n4 ,other ,types of ,loan ,collections ,that ,may be ,secured ,are3 ,insects--,sponges and ,corals--,crustaceans--,minerals and ,rocks--,native ,woods--,starfishes and ,worms--,mollusks4 ,,suggestions ,,for ,,teachers ,it is sometimes helpful to study birds by the ,question and ,answer method4 ,the following questions are written to suggest others of a similar nature4 ,what is a ,bird8 ,a bird is an animal that has feathers4 ,no other animal has feathers4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,city ,,of ,,strange ,,birds ,some of the brightest spots in childhood are connected with a vague realization of the beauty and mystery of the world4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,order ,,postcard ,requisitioning the service has been simplified to the nth degree4 ,all that a principal needs to do to obtain the collections is to indicate by numerals the sequence in which he wants them delivered4 ,what are ,feathers ,used ,for8 ,feathers help to keep the bird warm4 ,with the aid of feathers the bird flies4 ,what ,other ,creature is ,able to ,fly ,without the ,aid of ,feathers8 ,the bat can fly upon wings of thin skin4 ,what are the ,names of ,some ,birds that are ,noted for ,their ,ability to ,swim1 ,fly1 ,creep1 and ,walk8 ,the ,bald ,eagle and the ,condor are both birds that are very strong fliers4 ,can you name any others8 ,the ducks are at home in the water4 ,can you name any other birds that are able to swim with ease8 ,the little ,brown ,creeper and many other birds are very happy in their ability to creep up and to climb trees4 ,the ,chicken and the ,partridge are both excellent walkers4 ,name some other birds that walk4 ,what ,birds ,help the ,trees to ,live by ,killing ,harmful ,insects8 ,the ,woodpeckers help the trees in this way4 ,name some other birds that find food upon the trunks of trees4 ,what ,may we ,attempt to do to ,protect ,birds8 ,we may help birds to live by giving them drinking places and bird baths in the ,summer1 and food tables in the ,winter4 ,we can help by not going near birds' nests and by not harming birds in any manner4 ,,suggestions ,,to ,,teachers ,,and ,,pupils ,,additional ,,study ,,topics ,birds are to be found in almost every corner of the earth4 ,their study has a world wide interest and appeal4 ,the following list is intended to serve as an aid in bringing to mind subjects that may be developed out-of-doors1 or studied in the class room4 ,vision of ,birds3 ,the keen power of sight of ,hawks and ,eagles2 the ,owl's eye at night4 ,variation in ,structure of ,bill3 ,adaptations of the sharp pointed1 curved beak of the flesh-eating ,hawks2 the small1 pointed bill of the insect-eating ,warbler4 ,variation in ,structure of ,feet3 ,the strong grasping talons of flesh-eaters2 the powerful walking feet of the ,chicken2 the perching feet of the ,chickadee1 ,habits of ,cleanliness in ,birds3 ,cleaning nests1 bathing in water and dust4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,nature-,,study ,,collection--,,the ,,bluejay ,,set ,the specimens are delivered to the school in a wooden carrying case about the size of an ordinary suitcase4 ,the birds are mounted on individual pedestals and can easily be removed from the case4 ,thus the specimens may be used singly or collectively4 ,they can be handled and seen from all sides4 ,the ,flight of ,birds3 ,powerful1 sustained flight of the ,condor2 darting flight of flycatchers2 suspension in air1 or hovering flight of the ,hummingbird and ,sparrow ,hawk4 ,migration of ,birds3 ,travels from one continent to another1 often over wide expanse of water2 journey of the ,golden ,plover4 ,training of ,young ,birds by ,their ,parents3 ,young ,barn ,swallows forced into the air2 ,robins offering food to young and thus enticing them to leave the nest4 ,the ,songs of ,birds3 ,the ,parrots1 ,thrushes1 ,sparrows4 ,songs of male birds during breeding season1 imitation and mimicry--,catbird2 warning cries1 call notes4 ,care and ,feeding of ,young3 ,different methods employed by parents4 ,the ,pelican1 the ,robin1 the ,swallows1 the ,flicker4 ,types of ,nests3 ,construction1 materials used1 building location2 nest of ,bank ,swallow1 hanging nest of ,baltimore ,oriole1 ,crow's nest4 ,weapons of ,fighting3 ,spurs1 wings1 bills1 talons4 ,protective ,coloration3 ,similarity of plumage1 color and markings to habitat4--the ,wood ,thrush1 the ,partridge4 ,bird ,houses3 ,different types1 how made1 how placed1 how used4 ,bird ,conservation3 ,methods of preservation in various states4 ,laws for protection4 ,relation of ,birds to ,agriculture3 ,insect eaters1 seed eaters1 rodent destroyers4 ,the ,bird's ,feather3 ,feathers for study will be given to teachers upon request4 7,note74 ,these are but a few of the subjects that might very well be considered4 ,,outline ,,for ,,bird ,,study 7,suggestions to ,teachers and ,pupils7 ,in observing birds out-of-doors or in the class room1 with an idea of studying or identifying them1 there are certain definite things to know and to remember4 ,the following outline makes some suggestions of what to look for when a bird is seen for the first time1 or when you are studying a mounted specimen or colored picture4 ,movements3 ,see whether the flyer hops or walks when it is on the ground4 ,does it hang upside down1 move slowly or quickly1 swim or creep8 ,remember that the same bird may have a different appearance at various times4 ,disposition3 ,did you ever think of a bird in connection with its having a disposition8 ,notice whether it is unsuspicious1 wary1 social1 solitary1 etc4 ,flight3 ,does the bird that flies over your head travel rapidly or slowly8 ,does it flap along or does it sail and soar8 ,maybe it undulates 7flies up and then down in half-moon curves7 as the ,goldfinch does4 ,song3 ,there are many times when you may hear a bird but not see it4 ,thus you should listen for songs very carefully4 ,notice whether the song is continuous1 short1 loud1 low1 pleasing1 unattractive1 and whether it comes from the ground1 from a higher perch1 or from the air4 ,call ,notes3 ,nearly all birds have a ,call ,note that is different from the regular song4 ,these notes may be of various sorts such as scolding1 warning1 alarm1 signalling1 as well as a number of others4 ,size3 ,in the field1 you cannot run up to a wild bird and measure it with a ruler1 but what you can do is to compare it in size with some other bird that you do know4 ,compare the unknown bird with an ,english ,sparrow which is about #f inches long1 a ,robin about #aj and a ,crow #ai inches long4 ,remember1 #f1 #aj and #ai4 ,form3 ,note the shape of the bill1 length of the tail1 shape of wings4 ,illustration3 ,bird with parts labeled ,illustration3 ,,birds ,,that ,,are ,,our ,,friends ,one of the new ,habitat ,group circulating nature-study collections4 ,the label-holders are hinged to the back of the case and close over the ends1 protecting the glass during transportation4 ,the label at the left is general and gives reasons why birds are our friends4 ,that on the right deals with the habits and use of the specific birds in the case1 each being identified by a simple drawing instead of by title or number4 ,markings and ,color3 ,see just where the markings are4 ,remember that if a bird were seen without feathers1 it would look quite a bit like any other animal4 ,the next time you have a chicken after the feathers have been removed1 look at it closely4 ,the wings look like arms1 and as a matter of fact1 they have three fingers1 which may be easily seen4 ,the bird has a crown on its head2 he has cheeks1 a breast1 a throat1 a belly1 and a rump as well as other external or outside parts4 ,do not say that you saw a bird that was black and white and brown all over4 ,no one could tell you what sort of a bird that was4 ,see--just what you are looking at4 ,as with the ,markings1 you should know something of the parts of a bird before you are able to tell just where the colors occur4 ,how many colors are there on the under side of the ,robin8 ,appearance3 ,the bird may be alert1 wide awake or pensive as though it had just lost a friend4 ,its tail may be drooped1 its crest erected or its feathers ruffled4 ,haunts3 ,where did you see the bird8 ,was it near the seashore1 beside the river1 in the woods1 the fields1 a place where the land was low and swampy or high and rocky1 or was it down near the side of the lake8 ,season3 ,the time of year that the bird is seen is a very important thing to notice and to take into consideration4 ,look for the times when birds first arrive and when they leave4 ,did you see them in the winter1 spring1 summer1 or fall8 ,are they permanent residents8 ,food3 ,when you walked through the pasture or through the park and saw a bird eating something1 did you stop and try to discover what that food was8 ,was the bird eating berries1 insects1 seeds8 ,how was this food secured8 ,mating3 ,every bird has certain courtship habits4 ,note these antics4 ,nesting3 ,observe the choice of nesting site1 the materials used in the nests1 such as mud1 grass1 leaves1 and so on4 ,notice the construction1 the number and the color of the eggs2 and the incubation period1 or the length of time the eggs take to hatch2 and above all things1 do not in any way disturb any bird's nest4 ,the ,young3 ,watch and learn what food the young ones are given by the parents2 how they are cared for2 the time they remain in the nest2 their cries1 actions1 first flights1 and so on4 ,how to ,find ,birds3 7a7--,when--,the best times of day are early morning and late afternoon4 ,why is this true8 7b7--,where--,a watered meadow with trees here and there attract birds4 ,learn this from observation4 7c7--,how--,use common sense as to dress and general actions4 ,sit down and let the birds come to you4 ,based on ,dr4 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman's ,a ,bird's ,biography1 p4 #gc--;,bird ,life1 published by ,d4 ,appleton ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,,the ,,bluebird ,in this locality some of the ,bluebirds are with us all the year through4 ,however1 they are not so often seen in winter as in warmer summer months4 ,the ,starlings and the ,english ,sparrows have driven them from many former nesting sites4 ,food3 ,the ,bluebird eats many insects1 including beetles1 grasshoppers and different kinds of caterpillars4 ,he also often feeds upon such fruits as cedar berries1 wild cherries and those of other wild plants4 ,bill3 ,the bill of this bird is much like that of the ,robin and the ,thrushes4 ,these birds are very closely related4 ,feet3 ,being a typical perching bird1 the ,bluebird has very well developed feet4 ,the hind toe is larger than any of the front ones and is of great value in grasping a twig or larger branch4 ,nest3 ,when the ,bluebird has found his mate1 the pair begin their search for a home4 ,it may be in a hollow tree1 fence post1 or in a box built by some friendly hand4 ,within the nesting hole a bed of dried grass is made4 ,five or six pale blue eggs are laid and then the new family is well on its way4 ,song3 ,the song of the ,bluebird1 while not very lengthy1 is very soft and sweet4 ,it has a musical tone and is one of the most beautiful of the early ,spring bird voices4 ,the notes are somewhat unsteady and have a tender1 plaintive quality4 ,john ,burroughs has said of the ,bluebird3-- ,and yonder ,bluebird1 with the earth tinge on his breast and the sky tinge on his back1 did he come down out of heaven on that bright ,march morning when he told us so softly and plaintively that1 if we pleased1 ,spring had come8 ,william ,cullen ,bryant has written3-- ,when beechen buds begin to swell1 ,and woods the ,bluebird's warble know1 ,the yellow violet's modest bell ,peeps from last year's leaves below4 ,and ,lowell3-- ,shifting his light load of song1 ,from post to post along the cheerless fence4 ,illustration3 ,the ,bluebird--#g inches ,,the ,,phoebe ,toward the end of ,march1 the peaceful1 confiding ,phoebe ventures northward4 ,sometimes ice and snow greet the little bird1 but on he goes to take the weather as it comes4 ,the return journey to the far south does not begin until the first frosty nights of ,september tell the story of approaching winter4 ,food3 ,at the time of the ,phoebe's arrival1 some of the first flying insects are trying their wings4 ,as the ,phoebe is a flycatcher1 he may be seen1 darting and wheeling about1 in pursuit of his food4 ,the snap of his beak may be heard as some small creature is overtaken and swallowed4 ,beetles1 weevils1 flies1 grasshoppers and other insects help to feed this bird4 ,bill3 ,the bill of the ,phoebe is admirably adapted to its feeding habits4 ,this ,quill is quite broad and strong4 ,upon each side are small bristles which help the bird to feed while flying4 ,how do these bristles help8 ,wings and ,tail3 ,the ,phoebe is an expert in the air4 ,his wings and tail are comparatively long and powerful4 ,compare them with those of the ,wren4 ,which one of the two is the best flier8 ,why8 ,song3 ,while resting and while watching for insects1 the ,phoebe often perches upon the end of a branch or fence post and sings--pewit-phoebe-phoebe-phoebe4 ,at the same time1 he moves his tail with a sideway sweep1 in a jerky little way4 ,he is not much of a singer1 but when the sound1 phoebe-phoebe comes to us in ,march or early ,april1 we know that ,spring will soon be here4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,phoebe is well built of mud1 moss and other materials4 ,it is sometimes lined with wool and feathers4 ,the structure is placed on some flat surface1 such as upon a rafter beneath a bridge or in a barn4 ,occasionally the nest is built under some sheltering bank or cliff4 ,the eggs are usually white4 ,of the ,phoebe1 ,lowell has written3 ,phoebe is all it has to say1 ,in plaintive cadence o'er and o'er ,like children that have lost their way ,and know their names1 but nothing more4 ,illustration3 ,the ,phoebe1 a ,flycatcher--#g inches ,,the ,,barn ,,swallow ,the ,barn ,swallows arrive in the ,north toward the end of ,april and leave early in ,september4 ,they are sociable birds and travel in huge flocks4 ,food3 ,insects1 caught upon the wing1 form the diet of those ,swallows4 ,they dart here and there1 over field and water1 catching their prey in swift1 graceful flight4 ,feet3 ,often1 in the season of migration1 thousands of ,swallows perch upon telephone wires1 sometimes in such large numbers that the wires are broken4 ,their small feet are well suited for this1 but not for walking upon the ground4 ,tail3 ,the tail of the ,barn ,swallow is deeply forked4 ,when perched1 these long protruding outer tail feathers serve to distinguish the ,barn ,swallow from all other native ,swallows4 ,song3 ,the gentle twitter of the ,barn ,swallow is a familiar sound about many a farm where an old barn or other outbuilding may provide a nesting site4 ,it is a musical sound that changes to a kit-tic--kit-tic when the bird becomes excited4 ,nest3 ,the cup-shaped nest of the ,barn ,swallow is made of mud and is lined with grass and feathers4 ,it is stuck to the side of a rafter or beam or against the inside of the weather-boarding of an old barn where a broken window pane or other hole admits the bird from the out-of-doors4 ,the eggs are white1 speckled with brown and lavender4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,tree ,,swallow ,tree ,swallows nest both in hollow trees and in nesting boxes that man has erected for their use4 ,the upper parts of this bird are of a blue-green color while the under parts are of a pure white4 ,when going to the south they collect in huge flocks and1 after having flown high into the air1 they begin their journey in the daytime4 ,at ,long ,beach1 ,long ,island1 thousands of them have been observed feeding upon the bayberry bushes just before they started south4 ,illustration3 #a4 ,purple ,martin ,shining blue-black2 wings and tail duller #b4 ,eave or ,cliff ,swallow ,back and crown steel blue1 forehead cream white1 throat and sides of the head chestnut1 breast brownish gray1 under part whitish #c4 ,sandbank ,swallow ,upper parts and band on breast brownish gray1 throat and under parts white #d4 ,barn ,swallow ,under parts dark blue1 forehead1 throat and breast reddish brown #e4 ,tree ,swallow ,upper parts dark blue or green1 throat and under parts white ,,the ,,house ,,wren ,some day1 late in ,april1 the ,house ,wren will appear to add to the growing bird population4 ,not until the middle of ,august or the end of ,september will he depart4 ,he is the most common of our ,wrens4 ,food3 ,ninety-eight percent of the food of this small bird is made up of insects4 ,actions3 ,these little birds are very restless4 ,they seem never to be still4 ,from dawn to dark they are bobbing1 hopping1 and bowing about with tireless energy4 ,the stiff tail1 constantly jerked1 is usually in an upright perky position1 and is a true mark of the ,wren's personality4 ,song3 ,the ,house ,wren is more noted for the quantity of his song than for the quality4 ,although parts of his singing are soft and musical1 there are other times when scolding1 grating notes mar the performance4 ,constantly singing1 the ,wren goes about his work4 ,even when flying or perching with a worm in his beak1 he will sing away as though the thoughts of mere food were far indeed from his mind4 ,the true song is a spontaneous and rollicking outburst1 and is sung with real abandon that fairly makes the small feathered body tremble with the force of its effort4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,house ,wren is made within some cavity1 either natural or man-made4 ,if no hollow tree is about1 an eave spout will do1 provided that an ,english ,sparrow has not found it first4 ,wrens have even been known to build their nests in old shoes6 ,the material used consists of grass and short twigs1 feathers and like material4 ,the eggs1 sometimes as many as eight in number1 are thickly speckled with pinkish brown4 ,flight3 ,the flight of the ,wren is very erratic4 ,it darts here and there with much speed4 ,although not a very strong flier1 the bird travels in many places that larger birds could never manage4 ,illustration3 ,the ,house ,wren--#d inches ,,the ,,chimney ,,swift ,the ,chimney ,swift1 which is in no way related to the ,swallows1 is seen in the ,north toward the end of ,april or early in ,may4 ,from the last weeks of ,august until late in ,september1 southward bound flocks may be seen1 and then the bird has left us until ,spring comes again4 ,food3 ,the ,swifts feed entirely while flying4 ,they eat small flying insects of many kinds1 catching them chiefly in the early morning and late afternoon4 ,feet3 ,seldom does the ,swift alight upon any flat-topped object4 ,its characteristic perching place is upon some rough-surfaced tree or chimney where the small1 weak feet cling to the wall and hold the bird in an upright position4 ,tail3 ,the tail of the ,chimney ,swift is used as a prop to aid the bird in holding fast to vertical surfaces4 ,the feathers of this fan-shaped prop are spine-tipped4 ,wings and ,body3 ,the body of the ,swift is cigar shaped4 ,the wings are slender though powerful and have long outer feathers that help him to fly for hours at a time4 ,song3 ,the ,chimney ,swift has no true song4 ,his singing efforts result in a chip-chip-chip repeated over and over again1 with a twitter-like rhythm1 sometimes sounding chippy-chippy-chippy-chip4 ,nest3 ,the nest of this bird is an unusual structure made of twigs that are glued together with its glutinous saliva4 ,it forms a shallow1 saucer-shaped platform in which the small white eggs are laid4 ,before man-made chimneys offered nesting sites1 the ,swifts built in hollow trees4 ,illustration3 ,chimney ,swift--#e inches ,,the ,,chickadee ,the friendly1 sometimes inquisitive ,chickadees1 are with us all through the year4 ,ever active1 they fly here and there searching for food1 and giving their cheerful calls4 ,bill3 ,the tweezer-like bill of this little bird is very well adapted to the catching and eating of small insects and their eggs4 ,habits3 ,the ,chickadees are never strangers to one who walks within sight or hearing of them4 ,they fly very near and have even been known to perch upon the hand of different bird watchers who have sufficiently gained their confidence4 ,the gray and black colors of these small balls of feathers match the tree trunks and branches upon which the ,chickadees climb and hang in search of food4 ,song3 ,the ,chickadee tells his own name when he sings4 ,ella ,g4 ,ives has said3 ,i know a little minister who has a big degree2 ,just like a long-tailed kite1 he flies his ,d4 ,d4 ,d4 ,d4 ,chickadee-dee-dee6 is the music that comes from this small gymnast of the branches4 ,sometimes a ,phoebe call note is also given4 ,it is quite simple to imitate this note by whistling4 ,if you do it correctly the ,chickadee may answer4 ,nest3 ,an old1 hollow stump or fence post is often chosen by the ,chickadee for a home4 ,the nest within is built of moss1 plant fibers1 grasses1 and feathers4 ,from five to nine eggs are laid4 ,they are of a white color spotted with a ruddy brown4 ,ralph ,waldo ,emerson admired the ,chickadee who braved the winter's cold1 and seemed so happy in the very coldest of weather4 ,he wrote this about the little bird3 ,this scrap of valor just for play ,fronts the north wind in waistcoat gray1 ,as if to shame my weak behavior4 ,illustration3 ,the ,chick-a-dee--#e inches ,,the ,,white-,,breasted ,,nuthatch ,the ,nuthatch is one of the tree trunk birds that1 in the wintertime1 is a close friend of the ,chickadees and the ,downy ,woodpeckers4 ,he is with us all the year around4 ,some people have called him the ,upside down bird due to the fact that he is able to run up and down the trunks of trees in almost every conceivable position4 ,food3 ,the food of the ,nuthatch consists of the small insects that live under and upon the bark of trees4 ,the small1 sharp pointed beak is well adapted to pry off sections of loose bark that may house some eggs1 larvae or pupae of insects that are hidden for the cold months4 ,habits3 ,edith ,m4 ,thomas has written a little poem about the ,nuthatch4 ,it is a good description of the acrobatic powers of these little gray birds of the woods4 ,shrewd little haunter of woods all gray1 ,whom ,i met on my walk of a winter day-- ,you're busy inspecting each cranny and hole ,in the ragged bark of a hickory bole2 ,you intent on your task1 and ,i on the law ,of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw6 ,the ,woodpecker may well despair of this feat-- ,only the fly with you can compete6 ,so much is clear2 but ,i fain would know ,how you can so reckless and fearless go1 ,head upward1 head downward1 all one to you1 ,zenith and nadir1 the same in your view4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,nuthatch is located in a hole in a tree or stump4 ,it is lined with feathers1 leaves and other similar materials4 ,the white eggs are thickly speckled with a rufous and lavender color4 ,from five to eight eggs are laid4 ,song3 ,some one has described the song of this bird as being like the laugh of a very old man4 ,as the ,nuthatch pauses from his work to inspect you1 he may suddenly decide that you are no longer worthy of his attention4 ,with a harsh little yank-yank1 he will then continue his insect hunting and leave you to marvel at his actions4 ,illustration3 ,the ,white-breasted ,nuthatch--#f inches ,,the ,,song ,,sparrow ,the ,song ,sparrow is a member of a very large family4 ,his near relations are found in many regions of the earth4 ,in winter1 fall and spring1 he is with us to represent his kind1 and a fine representative he is1 with his good spirits and ever-ready song4 ,field ,marks3 ,the red-brown line behind the ,song ,sparrow's eye1 combined with the tiny splash of black and brown which streaks his breast are two marks by which the bird may be identified4 ,the larger blotch of color upon the breast is in the center of the splash4 ,song3 ,this ,sparrow is a musician of fine ability4 ,the call note is but a metallic chip4 ,the homing song is worthy of the attention of any one who likes to hear good music in the out-of-doors4 ,there is no one song but rather a combination of songs which are varied from time to time4 ,the beginning of the song is usually of three sustained introductory notes4 ,the following notes rise in rapid succession and are of a pure musical quality4 ,the strain is a cheerful1 simple melody4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,song ,sparrow is built either upon the ground or in bushes4 ,it is made of coarse grasses1 rootlets1 dead leaves1 strips of bark and similar materials4 ,the eggs1 four or five in number1 are of a bluish white with brownish markings which are often so numerous that they conceal the underlying color4 ,food3 ,the diet of the ,song ,sparrow consists largely of the seeds of harmful weeds4 ,it also feeds upon insects such as ants1 beetles1 and weevils4 ,the beak of this ,sparrow is comparatively large and strong4 ,it is well adapted to open large seed pods in order to reach and eat the kernel within4 ,henry ,van ,dyke has written a little poem about the ,song ,sparrow4 ,the first stanza of the poem1 from ,builders and ,other ,poems is given here3 ,there is a bird ,i know so well1 ,it seems as if he must have sung ,beside my crib when ,i was young2 ,before ,i knew the way to spell ,the name of even the smallest bird1 ,his gentle1 joyful song ,i heard4 ,now see if you can tell1 my dear1 ,what bird it is that every year1 ,sings1 ,sweet-sweet-sweet1 very merry cheer4 ,illustration3 ,the ,song ,sparrow--#f inches ,,screech ,,owl ,this little permanent resident is quite common in the outlying sections of the cities4 ,he seems to care for the society of man4 ,very often1 he is to be found near human dwellings rather than far out in the woods4 ,just why we should call this bird the ,screech ,owl is somewhat of a mystery4 ,the ,owl has a tremulous1 quavering voice that in no way suggests a screech4 ,perhaps it is that the name has come to us from ,europe4 ,at any event1 it is not appropriate to our small ,owl4 ,food3 ,sometimes in walks out-of-doors we may come upon small1 gray colored pellets made of hair and tiny bones4 ,very often1 these have been ejected by the ,screech ,owl1 who is able to digest the flesh of his prey but not the skeleton and the outer covering4 ,this beneficial night flier feeds upon mice and other creatures4 ,his sharp1 hooked beak is adapted to tearing food and his rather long and pointed little talons are of great use in grasping it4 ,color3 ,there are two color phases of the ,screech ,owl4 ,one is a mixture of mottled reddish brown1 and the other a brownish gray shade tinged with black4 ,these two phases have nothing to do either with sex1 age1 or season4 ,ears3 ,the two small tufts1 one on either side of the head1 are not ears at all4 ,they are merely feathers4 ,they may well serve to distinguish this bird from the ,acadian or ,saw-whet ,owl which is not at all common4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,screech ,owl is often placed in a hole in a hollow tree4 ,the pure white eggs1 some five or six in number1 are laid in ,april4 ,when night time comes1 the ,whip-poor-will sings1 ,the ,owl sails off on noiseless wings ,to search for mice and other things2 ,and ,i go home to bed4 ,illustration3 ,screech ,owl ,,the ,,kinglets ,there are two varieties of ,kinglets in this section of the country1 the ,golden-crowned and the ,ruby-crowned4 ,both members of the family are beautiful little birds that visit us in autumn and depart in the spring4 ,they are not with us during the warmer months4 ,in the coldest time of the year these little1 restless wanderers among the trees may be seen and heard4 ,except for the ,humming-bird and the ,winter ,wren1 the ,kinglets are the smallest birds that we have4 ,the ,ruby-,crowned ,kinglet ,the male bird may be identified by the partly concealed tiny crest of red which the bird often raises4 ,the ,golden-,crowned ,kinglet ,a crest of gold marks this cousin of the ,ruby-crowned4 ,often no color is visible upon the head except the uniform olive or greenish tinge4 ,however1 when the bird is excited1 the crest is raised and it is then that the color of the crown may be very well seen4 ,habits3 ,the ,kinglets are friendly birds that often come very near4 ,they seem to be much more tame than the warblers4 ,food3 ,a constant search for tiny insects occupies the time of the ,kinglets4 ,song3 ,the ,ruby-crown is the superior singer of the two4 ,his song consists of a loud1 clear warble1 interrupted here and there with a wren-like chatter4 ,the ,golden-crown's song may be expressed as tzze1 tzze1 tzze1 tzze1 ti1 ti1 tir1 t-t-t-4 ,the call note is an extremely high-pitched ti-ti4 ,nest3 ,the roundish nests of the ,kinglets are made of moss1 thin strips of inner bark1 feathers and other like materials4 ,these nests are made in evergreen trees and are sometimes placed as high as sixty feet above the ground4 ,illustration3 ,ruby-crowned ,kinglet--#d inches ,,robin ,our native ,robin is not closely related to the bird that the ,english call ,robin ,redbreast4 ,he is rather a relative of the ,bluebird and the ,thrush4 ,before the young of the ,robin leave the nest1 their breasts are speckled as are the breasts of the ,thrushes4 ,after the first moult1 this marking disappears4 ,some of the ,robins are with us all through the year4 ,however1 only the hardiest of them stay during the ,winter4 ,the majority travel to the warmer climates4 ,those who come to us from the ,south arrive about the first of ,march and depart toward the end of ,october4 ,song3 ,in the sunshine and the rain ,i hear the robin in the lane ,singing4 ',cheerily1 ,cheer up1 cheer up2 ,cheerily1 ,cheerily1 ,cheerily1 ,cheer up'4 ,a writer in ,a ,masque of ,poets has described the cheer in the ,robin's song very well4 ,robin music has real melody and expression4 ,indeed1 there are very few of our birds that have what might be called as great a vocabulary1 or as many expressive notes1 as has this familiar bird4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,robin is built of grasses1 rootlets and leaves4 ,the interior is well lined or plastered with a layer of mud4 ,another layer of fine grass forms the bed upon which the greenish blue eggs are laid4 ,these eggs are from three to five in number4 ,robins often raise two families each year4 ,the young of the first brood leave the nest toward the first of ,july4 ,food3 ,in ,june and ,july1 ,robins feed to some extent upon berries and similar fruits4 ,however1 what little harm they may do in this way is vastly offset by the good that is done during the rest of the year4 ,the ,robins are gleaners of insects4 ,they eat great quantities of beetles and their grubs1 grasshoppers1 crickets1 ants and other plant pests4 ,one of the most comical sights of bird feeding is to see a large1 round1 healthy ,robin struggle to pull a resisting1 equally healthy1 earthworm from its hole in the ground4 ,often1 the worm breaks in two and the ,robin1 suddenly and most unexpectedly1 tumbles over backward4 ,the ,robin seems to ,listen for the worm as he walks and hops over the lawn in the early morning4 ,illustration3 ,song3 ,the song of the ,robin in early ,spring tells us that warm weather is not far off4 ,we look for his brick red breast and watch him as he feeds about our lawns and gardens4 ,illustration3 ,the ,robin--#aj inches ,,the ,,red-,,winged ,,blackbird ,early in ,march1 the male ,redwing arrives4 ,it is not until two or three weeks later that the female comes from the south to join his company and to sail about over the cat-tails of the marsh4 ,when ,august has gone by1 the adult ,blackbirds are seldom seen4 ,it is in ,july that the young and old birds congregate in large flocks to prepare themselves for the journey southward4 ,red-winged ,blackbirds from farther north may be seen as late as ,october4 ,markings3 ,the male ,red-winged ,blackbird is of a faultless glossy black with shoulder patches1 or epaulets1 of a bright scarlet1 edged with gold4 ,his mate is of a more sober appearance--streaked with modest brown4 ,song3 ,henry ,d4 ,thoreau described the ,red-winged ,blackbird's song as--,chonk-a-ree4 ,these free1 truly bubbling notes are given again and again as the birds go about their everyday tasks in the ,spring4 ,the arrival of the females1 however1 is perhaps the signal for the greatest singing effort on the part of the males4 ,it is at this time1 especially1 that the marshland is fairly alive with the rich reed-like song that repeats--,conk-a-ree--,conk-a-ree--,conk -a-ree6 ,nest3 ,the nest of this bird is woven of grasses1 weed-stalks and rootlets4 ,sometimes it is built in a friendly1 compact mass of cat-tail1 and other nests may be seen in low bushes or tussocks4 ,these ,redwings do not welcome visitors to their nesting sites4 ,they raise very strenuous objections1 and1 in their attempt to drive away the intruder1 bird1 beast or man1 they will fly very near1 scolding in harsh tones the meanwhile4 ,eggs3 ,the eggs of the ,red-winged ,blackbirds are truly unusual in their markings4 ,they are of a pale blue ground1 or base color1 and are often scrawled over with a dark purple or black4 ,they appear to have been stepped upon by a bird that has first dipped its toes in a bottle of ink4 ,these eggs are from three to five in number4 ,illustration3 ,the ,red-winged ,blackbird--#i inches ,,baltimore ,,oriole ,how comes it1 ,oriole1 thou hast come to fly ,in tropic splendor through our northern sky8 ,edgar ,fawcett asks this question in his poem4 ,who is there that may answer him8 ,the ,baltimore ,oriole comes to us in early ,may and stays until about the first of ,september4 ,this bird1 sometimes called the ,golden ,robin1 is a namesake of ,george ,calvert1 or ,lord ,baltimore1 who was the first proprietor of ,maryland4 ,indeed1 he does seem golden as he flashes about among green leaves4 ,however1 he is a relation of the blackbirds1 rather than of the robins4 ,colors3 ,the brilliant orange and black feathers of the ,oriole are the marks by which the bird may be identified4 ,the head1 shoulders and neck1 and the upper section of the back are of a gleaming black4 ,the breast is of a bright orange1 sometimes almost golden in its color4 ,song3 ,a loud1 sometimes bold1 whistle from the top of a sweeping elm tree often announces the presence of the ,baltimore ,oriole4 ,he is a fine songster of considerable ability4 ,his song is characterized by a richness that gives a truly musical quality to his efforts4 ,the same poet asks further3 ,at some glad moment was it ,nature's choice and charm ,to dower a scrap of sunset with a voice8 ,nest3 ,the beautiful hanging nest of the ,baltimore ,oriole is often suspended from the end of the branch of some shade tree1 where it sways with every passing breeze4 ,it is composed of hair1 strings1 grasses1 bark lining and other similar materials all closely interwoven with the greatest of skill4 ,the eggs1 four to six in number1 are of a white color marked with wavy blackish lines and spots4 ,this bird has been known to make very good use of yarn1 string1 and even strips of cloth1 placed where they might easily be found and woven into the nest4 ,some nests built almost entirely of string have been found4 ,illustration3 ,the ,baltimore ,oriole--#g inches ,,chipping ,,sparrow ,the sociable personality of the ,chipping ,sparrow enables the bird student to make his close acquaintance4 ,he is a little bird of modest habits1 who shows his trust in the human race by living very near to the homes of man4 ,in early ,april ,chippy arrives4 ,he leaves for the ,south about the first of ,november4 ,song3 ,chippy--,chippy--,chippy is all this small ,sparrow has to say4 ,certainly1 this is not an especially attractive song1 and yet it is very much in keeping with the unassuming disposition of the bird4 ,it could scarcely be called a song4 ,it is an extremely high pitched note with very little musical quality4 ,nevertheless1 somewhat monotonous though the songs may be1 they seem to have a peculiarly friendly air1 that1 at times1 is very welcome4 ,food3 ,injurious insects are eaten in large quantities by the ,chipping ,sparrows4 ,beetles1 grasshoppers and other similar insects are the prey of this bird4 ,many different types of seeds constitute the rest of the diet4 ,chippy will readily accept human hospitality whenever crumbs are scattered1 provided1 of course1 that the ,english ,sparrow does not arrive at the feeding station first4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,chipping ,sparrow is built in bushes1 shrubs1 trees1 or in the old vines that grow about country houses4 ,the nest is lined with long hairs4 ,one often wonders where the bird finds so many of them4 ,grass and fine twigs are used for the main construction of the home4 ,remarks3 ,the little chestnut cap of the ,chipping ,sparrow is perhaps his most noticeable marking4 ,by this1 and by his small size1 he may be readily identified4 ,he is sometimes called the ,least ,sparrow4 ,like some other members of the ,sparrow family1 he sometimes awakes in the middle of the night and bursts into song4 ,illustration3 ,the ,chipping ,sparrow or ,chippy--#e inches ,,the ,,meadowlark ,this bird of the fields may be seen during every month of the year4 ,after walking among the grasses1 it may suddenly fly up and may be identified by the conspicuous white outer tail feathers which flash in the sunlight4 ,field ,marks3 ,the black crescent upon the yellow breast of the ,meadowlark is a fine field mark4 ,in the early morning1 when a rising sun shines upon the open meadows1 this bright yellow patch seems to be1 in itself1 a reflected spot of golden light4 ,in winter1 a brownish tone1 more like the dried swamp grasses1 covers the plumage4 ,food3 ,insects form the major portion of food for this guardian of the hay fields4 ,sow-bugs1 weevils1 grasshoppers1 ticks1 plant-lice and other enemies of the farmer all fall prey to the pointed1 searching beak4 ,nest3 ,the beautiful little nest1 sometimes arched over1 is built of dry grass4 ,it lies hidden upon the ground1 often defying the keenest of eyes of hawk and man alike4 ,the eggs are white1 speckled with a reddish brown color4 ,they may number from four to six4 ,song3 ,the music of this ground bird is somewhat sad4 ,a slurred whistle1 rising from the grass in spring and early summer1 tells of the hiding place of the ,meadowlark1 singing in a plaintive minor key4 ,sometimes this song comes from the air4 ,its clear notes may be heard all through the year4 ,spring o' the ,year ,the ,meadowlark's song is ,spring o' the year1 ,as he flies o'er fields of hay2 ,he sings of his toil and not of the cheer ,that lies in a land far away4 ,remarks3 ,the protective coloration of the ,meadowlark is of great help to the bird4 ,the soft brown and ground colors aid it in escaping such enemies as ,hawks and other preying creatures4 ,to a soaring bird of prey1 the ,meadowlark must seem to be only a section of the ground upon which it walks4 ,illustration3 ,the ,meadowlark--#aj inches ,,the ,,blue ,,jay ,the ,blue ,jay is closely related to the ,crow4 ,he shows this relationship in a number of ways4 ,he is very intelligent1 has a keen sense of humor and is an observer of birds and men4 ,all the year long he makes himself known to us by his striking plumage1 loud voice1 and active body4 ,during the nesting season1 however1 he is comparatively quiet and we see little of him4 ,food3 ,during eight or nine months of the year the ,blue ,jay earns an honest living4 ,he eats many harmful insects1 frogs1 snails1 and even small fish and mice4 ,in the breeding season1 however1 the ,jay sometimes turns robber and has been known to steal the young of other birds4 ,nevertheless the ,jay is a likable creature1 and probably before human beings came to disturb him he was not quite so much of a nuisance to other birds as he is now4 ,song3 ,the clearly whistled note of this bird proclaims the name ,jay6--,jay6--,jay6 in loud1 harsh1 ringing notes4 ,sometimes the song is quite pleasing with a bell-like quality4 ,some think that when the ,jay calls he says ,thief6 ,thief6 ,thief6 ,nest3 ,the ,blue ,jay often constructs his nest in a convenient crotch of a tree4 ,it is built of twigs quite strongly interwoven4 ,the lining is of leaflets4 ,the inside of the nest is not by any means soft4 ,the pale olive brown or green eggs sprinkled with brownish are from four to six in number4 ,remarks3 ,it is in the winter time that we really know the ,jay in motion4 ,when the snow is on the ground and the woods and fields are quiet it seems a fine thing to see dashing through the branches1 calling again and again1 a bright bluish bird who gives an entirely different atmosphere to the outdoors4 ,being something of a mimic1 he sometimes takes delight in imitating the songs of such birds as the ,red-shouldered ,hawk and other songs that have a similar ring4 ,he has been called a reprobate1 but1 despite his bad habits1 who is there that does not appreciate his vivacity and ever-active personality8 ,illustration3 ,the ,bluejay--#aa inches ,,downy ,,woodpecker ,this little member of the ,woodpecker family is a permanent resident with us4 ,all the year through he is to be seen busily engaged in his life work1 which is a constant search for food4 ,the ,downy ,woodpecker may be distinguished from the ,hairy ,woodpecker mainly by its smaller size and by its outer tail feathers which are barred with black4 ,food3 ,the food of nearly all ,woodpeckers consists of insect material that is found on or within the bark of trees4 ,thus when the ,downy ,woodpecker is searching for food1 he may be seen upon the tree trunks or even hanging beneath branches pecking away1 excavating and digging4 ,to name the injurious insects that form this ,woodpecker's diet would take a long list4 ,every stroke with which he knocks at the door of an insect's retreat sounds the crack of doom4 ,he pierces the bark with his beak1 then with his barbed tongue drags forth an insect1 and moves on to tap a last summons on the door of the next in line4 ,nest3 ,the ,downy ,woodpecker makes his own home4 ,he uses his beak for a chisel and for a pick1 and digs away at some hollow tree stump making a neat little round hole that leads to a cavity wherein the white eggs are laid4 ,by way of a bed for these eggs the ,woodpecker uses a few soft chips4 ,these same holes are often used the next season by some little ,chickadee who is only too glad to take advantage of his opportunity4 ,song3 ,in addition to tapping or drumming upon a hollow stump1 thus making a noise like a tiny drummer1 the ,downy ,woodpecker also has a sort of song4 ,the notes are rather business-like and come through the woods industriously1--in rapid succession--peek-peek-peek6 ,sometimes1 especially when interrupted1 the notes may sound like chink-chink-chink6 ,remarks3 ,in the winter time the ,downy ,woodpecker leads a rather solitary life flying about in the woods1 searching here and there1 calling now and then1 and patiently waiting for the return of ,spring4 ,in the ,spring1 however1 when the mating season comes again1 the ,downy takes a new interest in life1 becomes more active and generally shows himself to be very well aware of the fact that soon he must expect to work upon his new home4 ,it is at this time that the call note peek-peek-peek6 comes more sharply than ever4 ,illustration3 ,downy ,woodpecker--#f inches ,,the ,,starling ,like the ,english ,sparrow1 the ,common ,starling has become a ,naturalized ,american ,citizen4 ,he was introduced from ,europe in #ahij1 when sixty of his kind were released in ,central ,park1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,he is a very permanent resident wherever he has spread1 and1 because of the fact that he often ousts local or native birds1 he is somewhat objectionable4 ,song3 ,the song of the ,starling has many attractive notes4 ,the whistles are especially appreciated by city dwellers who seldom hear the songs of more gifted birds4 ,an indescribable jumble of notes characterizes the remainder of the ,starling's musical efforts4 ,william ,h4 ,hudson has written a very good description of this bird's song--,his merit lies less in the quality of the sounds he utters than in their endless variety4 ,in a leisurely way he will sometimes ramble on for an hour1 whistling and warbling very agreeably1 mingling his finer notes with chatterings1 squealings and sounds as of snapping the fingers4 ,nest3 ,the ,starling will build in crevices of buildings1 in hollow trees or in bird houses erected for the use of other birds4 ,the nesting material consists of grasses1 straw1 twigs and other available material4 ,the eggs1 four to six in number1 are of a pale bluish color4 ,food3 ,the ,starling eats a great number of insects4 ,cultivated cherries1 unfortunately1 also1 are very well liked by the bird who feeds upon them quite often during the breeding season4 ,remarks3 ,the plumage of the male ,starling is quite beautiful4 ,it is of an irridescent1 metallic color in the spring and summer4 ,in the winter1 a brownish gray obscures the more brilliant colors4 ,the bill of the bird is yellow in summer1 but dark horn-color in winter4 ,illustration3 ,starling--#h inches ,,junco ,the slate-colored ,junco comes down from the ,north to spend the winter in a more moderate climate4 ,he may be first seen toward the last of ,september4 ,the departure for the ,north is made about the first of ,may4 ,they are certainly welcome visitors1 coming as they do when most of our smaller birds have gone on further ,south4 ,in small flocks1 these plump little birds hop and fly1 here and there1 over the snow1 searching for weed seeds and other food4 ,song3 ,the notes that are more frequently heard are sharp little tsips given rather as a call note than as a song4 ,the true music or regular song of the ,junco is a decidedly musical trill4 ,sometimes1 when disturbed1 the birds will utter a short smack6 and fly to some other place where they may be uninterrupted in their hunting4 ,markings3 ,the ,junco is a very trim little bird1 with a somewhat stylish appearance4 ,he is quite plump and has a covering of neat slate color above and upon the throat in a bib formation4 ,the belly is white4 ,two very conspicuous white outer tail feathers are the most striking identification marks4 ,bill3 ,this bird is a member of the ,sparrow family4 ,he has a thick1 pointed little bill that is of great service in crushing seeds4 ,when the sun shines directly through this bill1 a flesh-colored pink is shown4 ,nest3 ,the ,junco nests from northern ,new ,york and ,new ,england1 northward4 ,the nest is made of fine rootlets1 grasses1 and moss1 interwoven and built upon the ground or just above in small bushes1 and lined with hairs4 ,remarks3 ,the sociability of the ,junco is mainly responsible for his traveling in small flocks during the winter time4 ,crumbs and similar foods are greatly welcomed by this bird1 who will often come quite near to human homes if sufficiently invited4 ,the flash of white and gray is a welcome sight as a small band of these birds comes flying into the garden when the clouds above are heavy and gray with oncoming snow4 ,it is at this time that we most appreciate their company4 ,illustration3 ,the ,junco--#f inches ,,the ,,english ,,sparrow ,the ,english ,sparrow is most often referred to as a pest4 ,it is a permanent resident in more senses than one4 ,it was in #ahea and #aheb at ,brooklyn1 ,new ,york1 that the small bird was first introduced4 ,during the first #bj years or so it was mostly confined to the larger cities in the east4 ,however1 due to the bird's rapid increase it has spread throughout every ,state in the ,union and has proved itself to be truly a great nuisance4 ,native birds have been driven from their homes and have been robbed of much of their food and many of their nesting sites4 ,song3 ,the ,english ,sparrow has no true song1 but rather is content to call ,chirp--,chirp--,chirp--,chirp6 over and over again4 ,sometimes1 in the larger cities such as ,new ,york1 far from the parks where no other birds would probably be1 the hardy little ,sparrow is welcomed by the children to whom1 without him1 bird life would be entirely a closed book4 ,thus it is that the chirp-chirp-chirp6 is not unwelcome everywhere4 ,nest3 ,dr4 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman has said that the ,english ,sparrow builds its nest of any available material1 in any available place4 ,behind window shutters1 in upturned eave spouts and gutters1 beneath roofs1 in holes in trees and in almost every conceivable place1 this bird makes its home4 ,the eggs1 four to seven in number1 vary greatly in coloration4 ,sometimes they are plain white1 sometimes almost completely colored with olive brown4 ,they are often marked with olive4 ,remarks3 ,even though this little bird is truly a pest it seems a shame to criticize him in too harsh terms4 ,after all1 it is not his fault that he was brought to a country whose climate and general living conditions proved to be exactly what he wanted4 ,he has thrived because his adopted habitat has proved to be ideal4 ,let us not confuse this bird in any way with our truly native sparrows whose habits are so entirely different from this little ,english ,colonist4 ,the names of some of our ,north ,american birds of the same family are the field sparrow1 the song sparrow1 the vesper sparrow and many others whose lives1 unfortunately1 are not nearly so well known4 ,illustration3 ,the ,english ,sparrow ,,scarlet ,,tanager ,the ,tanagers do not winter north of the ,mexican border4 ,in the summer there are four species that occur in the ,united ,states1 only two of which inhabit this section of the country4 ,the ,scarlet ,tanager is one of the most common of these4 ,he arrives early in ,may and departs early in ,october4 ,these beautiful birds are not often seen unless we look up into the trees4 ,the male bird1 with his truly startling colors1 is a sight to remember4 ,the wings and tail are a jet black and the rest of the body is a remarkable scarlet4 ,the female is more modestly marked with olive4 ,song3 ,the song of the ,scarlet ,tanager resembles that of a ,robin1 but is much more throaty or buzzy1--causing one to think of a ,robin singing with a cold in his syrinx4 ,john ,burroughs has referred to it as a proud gorgeous strain4 ,the tones have a truly proud quality1 and well express the feelings of one who would like to lie idle in the woods to fully enjoy the content and peace of a warm spring day4 ,they suggest the quiet of a tired bumblebee droning his way homeward at the end of a hard day's work4 ,the call note has been represented as ,chip-churr--chip-churr4 ,nest3 ,the nest of this bird is made of stems1 rootlets1 and strips of bark4 ,it is sometimes quite loosely constructed and is placed upon the outspreading limb of a tree sometimes as high as forty feet4 ,the eggs1 three to five in number1 are of a greenish blue blotched with a chestnut color4 ,food3 ,the ,scarlet ,tanager destroys numerous harmful insects and is for this reason a very beneficial bird4 ,click-beetles1 crane-flies1 weevils and numerous caterpillars form a large part of his diet4 ,the ,tanager also eats some vegetable food such as small fruits1 berries and the seeds of plants1 most of which are wild4 ,remarks3 ,the male ,summer ,tanager1 which is another species1 is of dull red above and a vermilion beneath4 ,the female of this relation of the ,scarlet ,tanager is of a yellowish green above with a dull yellow upon the underside4 ,these ,tanagers are truly tropical in their appearance4 ,they are animated touches of color that seem somehow to be foreign to our ,northern woods4 ,illustration3 ,the ,scarlet ,tanager--#g inches ,,red-,,eyed ,,vireo ,except for the ,catbird1 the most talkative bird that we know is the ,red-eyed ,vireo4 ,he is first to be seen in late ,april4 ,when ,october has come1 the ,red-eye travels ,southward4 ,all through the warm days of spring and summer1 this persistent little bird sings and sings4 ,mr4 ,wilson ,flagg has called him ,the ,preacher ,bird4 ,this title is indeed well earned for he seems to say1 over and over--,you see me--,i see you--do you hear me8 ,do you believe me8 ,nest3 ,the pendant nest of the ,red-eyed ,vireo hangs from a forked branch4 ,it is made of small bits of dead wood1 plant down1 paper and strips of thin bark all very neatly interwoven to form a tiny bird basket4 ,the eggs1 three to four in number1 are of a white color with a few specks of brown or umber upon the larger end4 ,frequently the ,cowbird leaves her egg in this little bird's nest4 ,this poem by ,faith ,c4 ,lee1 in ,bird-,lore1 gives one person's opinion of the ,cowbird4 ,red-,eyed ,vireo ,when overhead you hear a bird ,who talks1 or rather chatters1 ,of all the latest woodland news1 ,and other trivial matters1 ,who is so kind1 so very kind1 ,she never can say no4 ,and so the nasty ,cowbird ,drops an egg among her row ,of neat white eggs4 ,behold her then1 ,the ,red-eyed ,vireo6 ,markings3 ,the trim little crown of the ,red-eyed ,vireo is of gray color1 bordered upon either side by a neat little band of black4 ,the eye of the bird is brick-red with a white line directly above4 ,food3 ,although this bird is not a member of the family of ,warblers1 his habits are somewhat similar4 ,insect food is found in the trees1 shrubs1 and bushes4 ,mabel ,osgood ,wright has referred to the ,red-eyed ,vireo as a bird of the mid-day4 ,in her children's poem of nine stanzas1 entitled ,the ,birds and the ,hours1 she says3 ,illustration3 ,the ,red-eyed ,vireo--#f inches ,noon ,who is the ,bird of the middle day8 ,the green-winged1 red-eyed ,vireo gay1 ,who talks and preaches1 yet keeps an eye ,on every stranger who passes by4 ,the ,red-eye has been known to become so tame that persons have stroked a bird upon the back as she sat upon the nest4 ,,the ,,goldfinch ,one of the merriest of all the many birds is the ,goldfinch1 or ,wild ,canary1 as he is sometimes called4 ,when winter1 with its biting cold and thick snow comes1 we still find this cheerful little bird1 visiting with its many friends1 perhaps perched on some barren branch1 twittering its gay little song to any who care to listen4 ,it is during these months that we find he has changed his bright yellow coat for one of olive green4 ,however1 he still wears his little black cap as his head covering4 ,song3 ,not only does the ,goldfinch resemble the ,canary in color1 but his singing is quite canary-like1 as well4 ,his song is lively1 spontaneous and decidedly musical1 often described as per-chic-o-ree4 ,it is frequently given as the bird is on the wing4 ,the flight is undulating and as the bird rises in a great upward curve1 a clear song1 with its wild care-free quality1 joyously fills the air4 ,nest3 ,the nest of the ,goldfinch is sometimes found in low bushes or in trees4 ,it is one of the most beautiful structures that may be seen out-of-doors4 ,fine grass and moss are used for the exterior1 while the very lightest of thistle-down is collected for the soft nest lining4 ,fortunate1 indeed1 are the little birds who are reared in this truly silken couch4 ,the eggs1 three to six in number1 are of a pale1 bluish white color4 ,remarks3 ,the female ,goldfinch is much darker in color4 ,instead of the black cap and black wings of the male1 she is covered with a brownish olive above1 and a yellowish white beneath4 ,indeed1 she is much the more modest of the two4 ,this little ,wild ,canary1 who sings as he flies1 is as useful as he is attractive4 ,he eats objectionable weed seeds and other similar food4 ,he is greatly attracted by sun-flower seeds and he would often come very close to our homes if we provided for him4 ,when we see the ,goldfinch dipping through the air1 and hear his happy per-chic-o-ree1 even from a distance we can make no mistake about his identity2 for of all the birds that have definite habits1 the ,goldfinch is most characteristic in his manner of flying4 ,illustration3 ,goldfinch--#e inches ,,the ,,ruby-,,throated ,,hummingbird ,the only species of ,hummingbird that we know in the ,northeast is the ,ruby-throat4 ,this little whirring jewel comes to us from the ,south in very early ,may and departs by the first of ,october4 ,it is interesting to learn that there are at least five hundred known species of ,hummingbirds in the ,new ,world4 ,they are found only in ,north and ,south ,america1 the greatest numbers being in ,south ,america in ,ecuador and ,columbia1 where ,dr4 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman writes that they inhabit the ,andean regions4 ,song3 ,the ,ruby-throated ,hummingbird utters only a little squeak and thus may be said to possess no true song4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,schuyler ,mathews has said that this note might possibly mean--,look out now2 don't attempt to catch me by the tail while my head is buried in this morning-glory6 ,the humming sound is made by the rapidly beating wings4 ,indeed1 these wings move so rapidly that they are invisible as the bird hovers in mid-air while investigating some flower4 ,food3 ,the diet of this ,hummingbird consists of tiny insects and also of the nectar of flowers4 ,nest3 ,this rare little structure is built upon a horizontal tree limb1 quite far from the ground4 ,it is built of the very softest of plant down1 covered upon the outside with small bits of lichens and bound to the branch with fibers4 ,this delicate little composition is most difficult to find4 ,often it is only discovered by accident1 perched upon its swaying foundation4 ,the two white eggs1 about the size of beans1 are incubated and then the two diminutive birds appear in the silken thimble4 ,the entire family could be contained in a spoon4 ,this little midget with throat of red1 ,that hums through the air like a bee2 ,is it a bird or a fairy instead1 ,that hovers for mortals to see8 ,or is it a flower with silvery wing1 ,content to fly though it never may sing8 ,on soft summer days1 where the ,jewel-weed grows1 ,this flash from the ,tropics may seem1 ,in its darting and dashing wherever it goes1 ,to be like the thread of a dream ,that journeys as even a dream may do1 ,to visit the blossoms and taste of the dew4 ,illustration3 ,the ,ruby-throated ,hummingbirds--#c inches ,male above1 female below ,illustration3 ,common ,pigeon ,illustration3 ,red ,crossbill ,,bird ,,games ,there are many different games that may be played to add interest to a study of birds4 ,some of these are adaptable for out-of-doors and some for the class room4 ,one game that has proven itself to be rather popular1 is a game of bird parts4 ,equipment3 ,for equipment it is necessary for the instructor to have either a large colored picture or a real specimen of some bird as the ,meadowlark which is rather distinctively marked4 ,rules3 ,first the instructor calls the attention of the children to the various parts of the bird as outlined upon the chart in this booklet4 ,he then asks the children to stand and calls out such body parts as the crown1 the nape1 the throat1 and the shoulder asking the children to put their hands quickly on the parts of their bodies that are named4 ,after this brief review the instructor holds up a different bird and points to the different parts such as the yellow nape of the ,bobolink1 the reddish breast of the ,grosbeak and asks the children to name quickly the parts as they are indicated1 at the same time placing their hands upon these parts as before4 ,the child who makes a mistake is made to keep his hand where it is1 and1 by process of elimination1 with the use of several birds it is often possible to find one child who has alone been undefeated4 ,,birds' ,,nest ,,game ,in order to appreciate what wonderful structures birds' nests really are1 it is sometimes helpful to try to build a nest4 ,equipment3 ,let each child gather several handfuls of dried grass1 short dead twigs1 strips of inner bark1 leaves and similar nesting material4 ,these may be brought to the classroom or else the game may be played in the open4 ,rules3 ,the instructor should give a brief talk on different types of birds' nests such as the ,robins' and ,crows'4 ,for this purpose1 several real birds' nests as examples would be most useful4 ,the children should be allowed a given time to construct their nests4 ,at the end of this period1 it is just barely possible that there may be one nestlike structure in the group4 ,this nest will of course be the winning one4 ,this is one way in which the children may appreciate the true birds' nests4 ,,the ,,migrations ,,of ,,local ,,birds ,our local bird life may be divided roughly into two parts3 the ,permanent ,residents and the ,transients4 ,as ,mr4 ,ludlow ,griscom has said ,it is idle to look for ,warblers in ,january or ,ducks in ,july4 ,we must know which of our birds are with us all the year and which visit us for a short time4 ,the following is a list that will help us to tell when to look for different birds at different seasons4 ,a4 ,permanent ,residents4 ,in general1 the birds that are present during the months of ,november1 ,december1 ,january and ,february are to be found hereabouts during the entire year4 ,these are the ,crow1 several of the ,owls1 the ,song ,sparrow1 the ,partridge1 etc4 ,however1 we also have winter visitors1 such as the ,kinglets1 the ,brown ,creeper1 the ,snowbird and others that return to the north during the warm season of the year4 ,b4 ,spring ,visitors4 #a4 ,march4 ,during this month a gradual influx of birds is noticed4 ,the following is a list of these bolder visitors4 7,feb4 #ae to ,march #be7 ,meadowlark ,rusty ,blackbird ,red-winged ,blackbird ,green-winged ,teal ,kingfisher ,phoebe ,cowbird ,morning ,dove ,purple ,grackle ,fox ,sparrow ,robin ,bluebird ,wood ,duck ,killdeer ,plover ,woodcock #b4 ,april 7,march #be to ,april #ab7 ,pied-billed ,grebe ,blue-winged ,teal ,great ,blue ,heron ,wilson's ,snipe ,piping ,plover ,osprey ,yellow-bellied ,sapsucker ,vesper ,sparrow ,ruby-crowned ,kinglet ,savannah ,sparrow ,white-throated ,sparrow ,chipping ,sparrow ,field ,sparrow ,swamp ,sparrow ,tree ,swallow ,yellow ,palm ,warbler ,pine ,warbler ,hermit ,thrush 7,april #ag to #be7 ,bittern ,black-crowned ,night ,heron ,clapper ,rail ,virginia ,rail ,towhee ,barn ,swallow ,blue-headed ,vireo ,black-and-,white ,warbler ,myrtle ,warbler ,black-throated ,green ,warbler ,louisiana ,water ,thrush ,brown ,thrasher 7,april #be to #cj7 ,green ,heron ,greater ,yellowlegs ,spotted ,sandpiper ,broad-winged ,hawk ,whip-poor-will ,chimney ,swift ,purple ,martin ,cliff ,swallow ,bank ,swallow ,rough-winged ,swallow ,yellow ,warbler ,house ,wren #c4 ,may3 ,this is the best month of the year for observation work if a large list of birds is the thing desired4 ,birds are now coming northward with a rush1 the peak of the migration season is reached1 and it is possible to see over #ajj species in a single day4 7,may #b to #g7 ,solitary ,sandpiper ,pigeon ,hawk ,hummingbird ,kingbird ,crested ,flycatcher ,least ,flycatcher ,baltimore ,oriole ,orchard ,oriole ,grasshopper ,sparrow ,rose-breasted ,grosbeak ,tanager ,warbling ,vireo ,yellow-throated ,vireo ,white-eyed ,vireo ,nashville ,warbler ,blue-winged ,warbler ,parula ,warbler ,black-throated ,blue ,warbler ,chestnut-sided ,warbler ,prairie ,warbler ,northern ,water-thrush ,hooded ,warbler ,northern ,yellow-throat ,ovenbird ,redstart ,catbird ,wood ,thrush ,veery 7,may #i to #ab7 ,acadian ,flycatcher ,red-eyed ,vireo ,worm-eating ,warbler ,blackburnian ,warbler ,yellow-breasted ,chat ,olive-backed ,thrush ,magnolia ,warbler ,canadian ,warbler 7,may #aj to #ad7 ,nighthawk ,bobolink ,white-crowned ,sparrow ,lincoln's ,sparrow ,golden-winged ,warbler ,tennessee ,warbler ,cape ,may ,warbler ,bay-breasted ,warbler ,blackpoll ,warbler ,wilson's ,warbler ,long-billed ,marsh ,wren ,gray-checked ,thrush 7,may #ae to #bf7 ,yellow-billed ,cuckoo ,black-billed ,cuckoo ,wood ,pewee ,indigo ,bunting ,cedar ,waxwing ,olive-sided ,flycatcher ,yellow-bellied ,flycatcher ,alder ,flycatcher ,kentucky ,warbler ,morning ,warbler #d4 ,june3 ,the majority of the local birds are nesting during this month and the others have gone on to breeding grounds further north4 #e4 ,july3 ,the breeding and the song seasons are now nearly concluded4 ,the moulting has begun and the woods and fields are quiet in the warm sunlight4 ,c4 ,,autumn ,,transients3 ,among the first of the birds to leave for the ,south1 the following may be noted3 #a4 ,august 7,august #a to #cj7 ,great ,blue ,heron ,sora ,rail ,clive-sided ,flycatcher ,golden-winged ,warbler ,tennessee ,warbler ,cape ,may ,warbler ,magnolia ,warbler ,bay-breasted ,warbler ,blackburnian ,warbler ,northern ,water ,thrush ,mourning ,warbler ,wilson's ,warbler ,canadian ,warbler #b4 ,september3 ,the ,southward migration continues4 7,september #a to #aj7 ,nashville ,warbler ,parula ,warbler ,black-throated ,blue ,warbler ,blackpoll ,warbler ,black-throated ,green ,warbler ,connecticut ,warbler 7,september #aj to #cj7 ,wilson's ,snipe ,broad-winged ,hawk ,pigeon ,hawk ,white-throated ,sparrow ,palm ,warbler ,olive-backed ,thrush ,coot ,savannah ,sparrow ,junco ,lincoln's ,sparrow #c4 ,october3 ,as the insects disappear when the frost arrives1 so do the birds1 that need this form of food1 go ,southward4 ,thus the weather is mainly responsible for the date on which the remaining species leave for the ,south4 ,an accurate list is hardly possible4 ,,bibliography ,handbook of ,birds of ,eastern ,north ,america3 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman4 ,d4 ,appleton ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,this book is very complete and deals with various phases of bird life4 ,it is a valuable handbook for teachers4 ,handbook of ,birds of ,western ,united ,states3 ,florence ,merriam ,bailey4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston4 ,bird ,life3 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman4 ,d4 ,appleton ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,popular edition with colored plates for teachers and children1 alike4 ,birds of ,village and ,field3 ,florence ,merriam ,bailey4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston4 ,for teachers and children4 ,wild ,wings3 ,h4 ,k4 ,job4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston4 ,for teachers and children4 ,among the ,water ,fowl3 ,h4 ,k4 ,job4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston4 ,for teachers and children4 ,birds of ,central ,park3 ,ludlow ,griscom4 ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history4 ,for teachers and children4 ,birds of ,new ,york ,city ,region3 ,ludlow ,griscom4 ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history4 ,for teachers4 ,birds of ,new ,york3 7#b volumes74 ,eaton4 ,new ,york ,state ,museum4 ,these large volumes contain very complete descriptions4 ,they are illustrated with beautiful color plates by ,louis ,agassiz ,fuertes1 which are especially useful to children4 ,a ,guide ,to the ,birds of ,new ,england and ,eastern ,new ,york3 ,ralph ,hoffman4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston4 ,for teachers4 ,field ,book of ,wild ,birds and ,their ,music3 ,f4 ,schuyler ,mathews4 ,g4 ,p4 ,putnam's ,sons1 ,new ,york4 ,for teachers and pupils4 ,the ,importance of ,bird ,life3 ,g4 ,inness ,hartley4 ,the ,century ,company1 ,new ,york4 ,for teachers and pupils4 ,birdcraft3 ,mabel ,osgood ,wright4 ,macmillan ,company1 ,new ,york4 ,for children4 ,gray ,lady and the ,birds3 ,mabel ,osgood ,wright4 ,macmillan ,company1 ,new ,york4 ,for children4 ,what ,bird is ,that8 ,frank ,m4 ,chapman4 ,d4 ,appleton ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,for teachers and pupils4 ,american ,birds ,photographed and ,studied ,from ,life3 ,william ,l4 ,finley4 ,charles ,scribners ,sons1 ,new ,york4 ,useful ,birds and ,their ,protection3 ,edward ,h4 ,forbush4 ,massachusetts ,state ,board of ,agriculture1 ,boston4 ,this book contains illustrations of noxious insects and the birds that feed upon them4 ,how ,to ,study ,birds3 ,herbert ,k4 ,job4 ,outing ,publishing ,company4 ,bird ,houses and ,how ,to ,build ,them3 ,ned ,dearborn4 ,farmer's ,bulletin #fji1 ,sup't4 of ,documents1 ,government ,printing ,office1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,attracting ,birds about the ,home--,bulletin ,no4 #a4 ,national ,association of ,audubon ,societies1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,an ,,early ,,morning ,,with ,,the ,,birds ,wild birds change their season in the night4 ,and wail their way from cloud to cloud ,down the long wind4 ,one early ,october morning ,i lay on the hard-packed ground1 longing for the sun to rise4 ,i had slept here all night long that ,i might see the birds at dawn4 ,deceived by the warmth of the previous day1 ,i had not brought enough blankets and was therefore exceedingly uncomfortable in the cold breeze4 ,at the foot of the hill upon which stood my camp1 there was a spring-fed pond4 ,dammed at one end1 it comfortably filled the head of a small valley4 ,leading from it was a broad1 grassy tidal flat that receded from the visible ,long ,island ,sound4 ,to shore birds this marshy place was an ideal feeding spot4 ,over the dark1 motionless surface of the lake there floated a fog bank1 suspended about twenty feet from the surface4 ,more vapor was slowly growing into a gigantic mushroom4 ,as ,i watched this increasing filmy mantle1 ,i saw first one and then another gray shape pass into it and disappear1 only to emerge again at some other point and vanish in the darkness of the oak-lined shore4 ,at first ,i could not imagine what these ghost-like shapes were1 and then1 just as ,i had about decided that they were the result of a freakish wind playing with stray cloudlets1 there came a gruff quawk1 quawk1 quawk1 taken up by one and then another of the shapes until the place echoed with hoarse cries4 ,i realized that the ,black-crowned ,night ,heron was taking his final morning sail preparatory to going to roost in some nearby tree for the day4 ,like the owl1 he preferred the night for his activities4 ,gradually the noise subsided as the ,herons settled on various branches4 ,the mist above the pond began to disappear1 and the small1 shapeless clouds far up in the sky took on a suggestion of color4 ,now was the time to arise4 ,in a very little while the woods would be filled with flying1 feeding birds1 and the best time of day for bird observation would be at hand4 ,yet so cold was ,i that it was impossible to move a limb4 ,several times1 off to one side1 a faint-voiced little ,white-throated ,sparrow gave a feeble imitation of his beautiful spring-and-summer song4 ,it was as though his vocal organs had become less pliant through disuse and exposure to the cold4 ,what a brave little singer he is1 even though his efforts are not always equally repaid4 ,i think it is partially what ,hudson would call the human note that so endears the ,white-throat's song to me4 ,there is truly an intimate quality in the first sustained note of his song4 ,but in the final1 high and infinitely sweet tones there is a suggestion of a song that is too pure to be voiced by anything that is bound to the earth4 ,many have been the hot summer days when1 tired and pack-weary1 ,i have paused for a moment to rest at some bramble-covered clearing in the deep woods1 and that cheery little forest voice of the ,peabody bird1 coming unexpectedly from some unseen branch1 would refresh me as much as a drink at some cool spring4 ,i look forward to his singing from one year to the next4 ,a massive white oak spread its powerful branches at least one hundred feet above my head4 ,it was a majestic and beautiful living monument to a mighty nature4 ,some of the topmost limbs seemed to reach up and disappear in the sky1 so perfectly did their pale gray bark blend with the early morning light4 ,for some time ,i listened to the soft rustling of the wind among its myriad drying leaves4 ,then very subtly from the tree top there came a different sound1 which impressed itself upon my consciousness as would the faint perfume of a distant flower bed slowly approached4 ,gradually it increased until the leafy whispering became almost inaudible1 and the air was filled with an indescribable1 high-pitched musical breathing4 ,it was as though countless tiny creatures were conversing a great way off4 ,turning squarely on my back1 ,i for a moment saw nothing in the leafy midst so far above4 ,as my eyes became more properly focussed1 however1 they distinguished some small objects of about the same size4 ,my glasses were safely stored in the heel of a large shoe close at hand4 ,forgetting the chill air1 ,i uncovered my chest and arms long enough to take out the binoculars4 ,there in the tree top ,i saw a moving mass of very small birds that were flying from one twig to another with scarcely any pause in their activities4 ,no sooner would one move out of sight than another would come flying into the tree and take his place4 ,the entire gathering was ever going southward4 ,a few of the number came down to the lower branches where their identity could be more readily determined4 ,i realized that ,i was witnessing the fall migration of a large group of ,american warblers4 ,among the most prominent of the small birds were the female and young ,redstarts1 who flashed into view many times4 ,the yellow on the outer tail feathers was plainly visible as they sped here and there after any insect that might be about4 ,the ,myrtle ,warbler1 with his four yellow spots on crown1 rump1 and on each side of his breast1 was very largely represented in the tree top4 ,the dainty little ,yellow ,warbler and the ,black-throated ,blue were also there4 ,what a multitude they were and what a long fearsome journey they had yet to travel6 ,it would be hard to enumerate all of the various dangers that beset these little birds as they fly mile after mile through the air at night1 and more particularly as they rest and feed near the ground during the day4 ,even as ,i watched1 a marauding ,screech ,owl glided overhead on noiseless wings4 ,instantly the twittering died1 only to be recommenced after the ,owl had passed quite harmlessly by4 ,what busy little creatures these birds were6 ,they searched every leaf and let no morsel of food1 insect or plant1 escape4 ,how well they knew that birds that fly in the night must feast in the daytime4 ,they were with me for about fifteen minutes1 and then1 as gradually as they had come1 so did they pass on until at last not a single one was to be seen4 ,for some time ,i lay there trying vainly to warm myself after my warbler exposure4 ,not a sound was to be heard--even the wind had become silent4 ,then suddenly there came from not very far a call of ,teacher1 ,teacher1 ,teacher1 ,,teacher4 ,never before or since have ,i heard the teacher bird announce himself so late in the season4 ,he was also on his journey southward4 ,his smaller brother warblers took to the tree tops but he1 although of the same family1 preferred the ground where he might look among the leaves for choice bits of food4 ,this bird is known by a diversity of names4 ,he is called by many the oven-bird1 due to the ,dutch-oven-like structure of his nest2 but to me he is1 as he was to ,john ,burroughs1 the ,teacher ,bird4 ,when ,i go off alone into the woods ,i want some sort of burglar alarm to warn me of strangers in camp on windless nights4 ,i resort to a very ancient but effective practice4 ,by gathering many armfuls of dry1 dead leaves and piling them all about my tent ,i feel fairly sure that no prowler can take me by surprise4 ,i had provided myself with just such an alarm on this overnight hike1 and was made aware by a slight rustling close to my tent that ,i had a caller of some kind4 ,for a moment ,i thought it was a gray squirrel1 but then the nature of the noise seemed different and ,i was puzzled as to who my visitor might be4 ,in a moment ,i found out4 ,a most beautiful1 clean-cut little ,wood ,thrush came hopping along before my tent4 ,he looked very cold1 and for that reason aroused my sympathy at once4 ,his shapely brown head was tucked down between the shoulder blades as far as possible4 ,so cold was he that he did not even look for food1 but with no apparent thought as to direction1 moved along evidently just to keep warm4 ,it gave me a mental picture of myself as ,i would be when ,i arose4 ,my main object would be to get the fire going so as to keep warm2 food would come later4 ,the ,thrush passed out of my sight without having paid any attention to me4 ,i thought him gone for all time2 but no1 in a moment he reappeared and to my intense delight came stalking straight towards the tent1 still in the frozen manner4 ,suddenly1 ,i am positive1 he saw me4 ,his head was taken from between the shoulders1 and every part of the bird seemed instantly on the alert4 ,the contrast was startling4 ,here was a most active and intelligent creature where before had been one that looked remarkably dull and stupid4 ,slowly1 and with the utmost caution1 he advanced until not more than two feet separated us4 ,there he stopped and literally looked me up and down4 ,not a sound nor a movement did ,i make1 so fearful was ,i of frightening my guest away4 ,what a remarkably clean white breast he had1 and how distinct were the round black spots with which it was speckled6 ,here was the woodland brother of the ,robin and the ,bluebird right where ,i could put my hand on him4 ,after he had become satisfied that ,i was harmless and was no more interesting than any of the queer-looking fallen logs or rocks of the forest1 he turned his back1 rather rudely1 and left the tent4 ,it was then that ,i arose and went about my fire making4 ,if the birds were so anxious to have me see them that they were forced to come into my tent ,i could no longer refuse them4 ,a hasty breakfast over1 ,i started off into the woods1 glasses in hand1 in quest of the birds that were calling4 ,,notes ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed edition3 this e,book is public-domain in the country of publication4 --,silently corrected a few palpable typos4 --,transcribed handwritten in-photo captions4 --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4