^o 



itMs 



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Fig-. 62. Taking Notes. 



schemes whereby he hopes to grow fat and to render the farmer helpless 



to prevent his devastations of the fruit trees and corn fields. Then 



follows the Robin, whistlings and strutting- around with renewed vigfor 



and grace. Then follow in rapid succession. Blue-birds, Song-sparrows, 



Black-birds, Phcebes, and a host of 

 others, until the air is filled with music. 

 Every tree, shrub, and meadow has its 

 full orchestra. 



Every boy and g-irl should keep a 

 record of the dates when the first of 

 ever}' kind of bird is seen each season. 

 It will add greatly to the pleasure of 

 spring-time. 



Nesting H.abits. Of all the evil 

 traits which have been handed down to 

 man, none is worse than the predisposi- 

 tion of the bad "small boy" to rob 

 ■— birds' nests. How much nicer it 

 would make the home, if instead of 

 driving the birds away in disgust, the 

 boys would all fix up some nesting 



boxes in the old orchard, and upon the roof of the wood-shed. These 



need not be large nor expensive, and yet you will be astonished how soon 



the birds will use them as homes. Let every boy vie with his fellows to 



have the greatest number of birds summer around his home. 

 Here is a suggestion for you. 



Nail up some nesting boxes near ^.« .r-^| 



your home, near by place some ">'''^' « 



bits of string and hair that the 



birds may use in building nests. 



Then, if there is no water close 



by, set up on a post a tin dish 



that will catch the rain, and you 



can from time to time fill it with 



fresh w?ter. This drinking place 



will attract the birds. Now keep 



track of the birds that come 



around, and, if you do not frighten 



them away, you will soon have 



some birds coming regularly to 



make their home with you. These 



new friends will be interesting, 



and ycu will be much happier 



in watching them coming and 



going through the summer than 



in frightening them away. 



Many of the birds are paired before they reach us in the spring, and 



soon they are busy making snug little homes in some secure and 



sheltered spot. The little workers labor industriously, all the v.hile giving 



&'^^'^> 



Fig. 63. Happy Homes. 



