Bird Studv. 



By Mrs. A. B. Johnson, Caledouia, N. Y, 



No department of natural historj^ surpasses ornithology in 

 attractiveness, and its resources are almost inexhaustible. Birds 

 may be found everywhere. In the city parks and suburban groves, 

 careful observation reveal objects for study even in the depth of 

 winter. The study of bird life is quite as interesting to the older 

 people as to the younger. Surely, every country boy or girl may 

 have as good an opportunity as did Longfellow's " Hiawatha," 

 who — 



" Learned of everv bird its language, 

 Leurued llieir naoies. and all tlieir secrets, 

 How they built their nests in snniiner, 

 How they hid theniselves in winter. 

 Talked with them wher'ere he met them. 

 Called them HiawaiLi's chickens." 



And it is very likely the birds would say as they did to the 

 proud young Indian lad as he journeyed through the forests 

 with his bow and arrow — 



" Do not shoot us, Hiawatha. 

 Sang the robin, sang the bluebird, 

 1)0 not shoot us Hiawatha." 



There are known to be between 7,000 and 8,000 species of liv- 

 ing birds, many rare and attractive, all interesting for study. Of 

 North American birds alone, there are more than 1,200 species. 

 Of this number but a couple of hundred may be called fairly 

 plentiful in the temperate parts of the United States. Birds may 

 be classed as migratory and resident; the former are numerous, 

 spending the winter season in the south and returning north on 

 the approach of spring. The latter remain with us throughout 

 the entire year. Of course, only those remain that can subsist 

 under almost any circumstances, nor do these resident birds have 



