ORNITHOLOGY. 



67 



estimation, is his ability to imitate the 

 three-note falsetto eall of the valley 

 quail. When I first heard the quail give 

 his note I thought that lie plainly said, 

 "Whip-poor-Will," but this call has 

 been variously interpreted. To some 

 he seems to say, "Get-right-out" while 

 others are so unkind as to make this 

 jaunty beauty impolitely say. Shut- 

 right-up!" Just how the mockingbird 

 means to interpret it I would not ven- 

 ture to say, but that he succeeds in 

 imitating" it perfectly, I know. 



Not so well does he succeed when 

 he tries his voice on the song of the 

 western meadow lark. Attempt it, 

 however, he does and although there 

 is no doubt as to what he is under- 

 taking, he is unable to carry the 

 refrain long. In fact, I have not often 

 heard him undertake it but I believe 

 it is because he does not frequently 

 hear the song rather than his unwill- 

 ingness to undertake it. 



Saucy, inquisitive, sulky, fun-loving, 

 scolding mockingbird, bird of as many 

 moods as notes — long may you con- 

 tinue to be our yard pet, and may your 

 matchless voice ever ring clear in your 

 varied repertoire. 



Field Lillies. 



BY i;.M.M.\ PEIRCE, \i;\V YORK CITY. 

 All the bells of the lilies are ringing, 

 Keeping time with the neighbor-birds sing- 

 ing, 

 With the joy that the summer is bringing. 



Matin bells! of the sunshine's own tinting, 

 With the pure morning light on them glint- 

 ing, 

 Of glory ineffable hinting. 



Vesper bells! with the sunset hues glowing, 

 From their fair golden chalices throwing 

 A halo round all 'neath them growing. 



"The Guide to Nature" continues to im- 

 prove. I did not think you could do it. The 

 money you have put into the magazine war- 

 rants a big subscription list and I trust 

 you are getting it. It is the best publication 

 of the kind that I know of and deserves to 

 succeed. — Willard N. Clute. 



I have read with great pleasure the issues 

 of "The Guide to Nature." I wish you all 

 success in the future of this splendid jour- 

 nal.— A. W. Nolan, A. B. 



I think "The Guide to Nature" is decidedly 

 improving and I believe will get better and 

 better. — Earl Douglass. 



A QUEER "BIRD" IN ITS NEST IN A HOLLOW TREE 



