734 



Rural School Leaflet. 



learn the names. It is always important to learn 

 the names of out-of-door things, for names help 

 you to learn facts about them from books. 



Before you receive the next Leaflet the birds will 

 begin to come back. Many young persons think 

 that birds go south because of the cold. The fact 

 is they go south because in the north they cannot 

 find food in winter. Birds feed upon insects and 

 seeds, and the supply gets short during the cold ^^" ^"^'^//^ made^"^^ 

 winter. Just as soon as there is promise of spring 



in the air the pussy willow and skunk cabbage fortell it, and the birds 

 know it. Therefore, I want you to be on the lookout for three that 

 you may find between the middle of March and the middle of April : 

 The robin, the bluebird, and the red-winged blackbird. The robin and 

 the bluebird are familiar to every boy and girl and need not be described. 

 The red-winged blackbird is almost as large as a robin. It is black 

 with bright scarlet shoulders. Air. Chapman speaks of the coming of the 

 red-wings as follows : "A swiftly moving, compact band of silent birds, 

 passing low through the brown orchard, suddenly wheels and, alighting 

 among the bare branches, with the precision of a trained choir breaks 



into a wild, tinkling glee. It is quite 

 possible that in the summer this 

 rude chorus might fail to awaken en- 

 thusiasm, but in the spring it is as 

 welcome and inspiring a promise of 

 the new year as the peeping of frogs 

 or blooming of the first wild flower." 

 The red-wings nest in the marshes. 

 In the October Supplement we showed 

 you the picture of a red-wing's nest. 

 Be sure to look for this " band of 

 silent birds." Listen to their glee- 

 some notes as they call "On-caree !" 

 Who will be the first bo\' or girl in 

 Aour school to see a bluebird? A 



robin ? 



A red-wing? 



Fig. 53. — An inexpensive bird-house. 

 Note the roof. 



'A day comes in the springtime 



When Earth puts forth her flowers, 

 Casts oflf the bonds of winter 



And lights him hence with flowers; 

 And then by marsh and meadow 



And by the silvery sea, 

 Goes up the red-wings' chorus : 



On-caree!'' — Dora Rccd Goodale. 



