THE COMING OF THE BIRDS. 



IN the lesson on the Oriole you read that he came 

 in May when buds were bursting into flowers. I 

 wonder whether you asked yourself, as you read, 

 where he had come from and why he had not come 

 before. 



These are questions that the very wisest men have 

 found it hard to answer. Without hurrying to answer 

 them now, — for if you read further there will be more 

 about these things, — let us ask some country boy 

 when the birds come back and which come first. 



If our friend has sharp eyes and ears, he will know 

 that early in March he hears the first Robin, and 

 with him come the gentle Bluebird, the noisy Black- 

 birds, and the cheery Song Sparrow. The Phoebe 

 waits a fortnight till the flies and gnats begin to stir, 

 for his food does not lie on the ground like that of 

 the birds just mentioned. 



In April come many more birds, but May is the 

 ^reat month for the returnino- tribes. The names 

 alone of all those that come in the warm days of early 

 May would fill a page. Bird World in the north is 

 like a seaside summer place, very empty in winter, 

 but stirring with life in summer. 



