20 BIRD WORLD, 



Do not look for them among the very earliest birds ; 

 they make up to us for coming later to the bird con- 

 cert of the year, by singing away on in August, when 

 many of the other birds are resting their voices. If 

 you are walking or riding on a country road well lined 

 with shrubs and trees, I should be surprised if you do 

 not before summer ends, looking up, see the male 

 Indigo bird — a little blue canary you will think 

 — on the outer end of a high twig; or, once in 

 a summer, you may come upon the dust-colored 

 mother dusting herself as mother-hens do, and com- 

 ing from her bath feeling as clean as you do coming 

 from yours. 



What if the sky is clouded ? 



What if the rain comes down ? 

 They are all dressed to meet it 



In waterproof suits of brown. 



BLUEBIRD. 



So the Bluebirds have contracted, have they for a house ? 

 And a nest is under way for little Mr. Wren ? 

 Hush, dear, hush 1 Be quiet, quiet as a mouse." 



