BIRD STORIES 



from JNIaryland, was still being observed, and even the 

 stupidest person can see that rice is better to eat than 

 sponges or history. 



Then, as suddenly as if their ^' Chink, chink, chink'' 

 meant ^^One, two, three, away we go," the long feast 

 was over, and their great flight again called them to mng 

 their way into the night. How they found Cuba through 

 the darkness, without knowing one star from another; 

 what brought them to an island in the midst of the water 

 that was everywhere alike — no man knows. But in 

 Cuba they landed in good health and spirits. This was 

 in September, — a very satisfactory time for a bird- 

 visit, — and Bob and his comrades spent some little 

 time there, it being October, indeed, when they arrived 

 on the island of Jamaica. Now Jamaica, so people say 

 who know the place, has a comfortable climate and 

 thrilling views; but it did m't satisfy Bob. Not for long! 

 Something south of the Amazon kept calling to him. 

 Something that had called to his father and to his grand- 

 father and to all his ancestors, ever since bobolinks first 

 flew from North America to South America once every 

 year. 



How many ages this has been, who knows? Perhaps 

 ever since the icy glaciers left Maine and made a chance 

 for summer meadows there. Long, long, long, it has been, 

 thatsomething'south of the Amazon has called to bobo- 



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