598 Home Nature-Study Course. 



It is of special value to the farmer because of its destruction of cutworm 

 caterpillars and destructive grasshoppers. These make up nine-tenths 

 of the bluebird's food in September. For importance of bluebirds to 

 agriculture see U. S. Department Bulletin, " Some Common Birds in 

 Their Relation to Agriculture," Beal ; " Birds in Their Relation to Man," 

 Weed and Dearborn. 



References. — Bulletin, " Some Common Birds in Their Relation to 

 Man," U. S. Dept. of Agr. ; Bulletin, " The Food of Nestling Birds," 

 U. S. Dept. of Agr. ; " Birds in Their Relation to Man," Weed and 

 Dearborn, pp. 86-88; " Nature-Study and Life," Hodge, chapters 18-21; 

 Junior Audubon Leaflets ; " Birds of Eastern North America," Chapman, 

 9, 403 ; " Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music," Mathews, pp. 

 251-254; " Nature-Study in Elementary Schools," Wilson, p. 188; " How 

 to Attract the Birds," Blanchan ; " Nestlings of Forest and Marsh," 

 Wheelock, pp. 62-89 ; " Bird Neighbors," Blanchan. 



THE bluebird. 



Winged lute that we call a bluebird, 



You blend in a silver strain 

 The sound of the laughing waters, 



The patter of spring's sweet rain, 

 The voice of the winds, the sunshine, 



And fragrance of blossoming things. 

 Ah ! You are an April poem, 



That God has dowered with wings. 



— Rexford. 



