BIRD ACQUAINTANCE. 25 



a bird a year or two old, and the next one but a few 

 months. It will take time to learn them all. 



Now we are ready to study the ways of our little 

 visitor in the tree. See him rub his bill, first on this 

 side and then that, against the branch on which he 

 perches. Is it to dry it, or to sharpen it, or to polish 

 it } Half the time it may be only a habit. 



He is on a bare branch, but how he pecks and 

 pecks ; if you watch, you may see him swallow. 

 When he has gone, go and see if there are grubs or 

 insects in the cracks of the bark. 

 • While you have been looking, he has hopped to 

 new places to rub his bill and peck as before. He 

 goes to a topmost branch and you see his under parts. 

 The branch is too large for him to grasp with his toes, 

 but he clings, and head and tail help him to keep his 

 balance. Perhaps he will stretch one wing so that its 

 quills stand all apart ; and see him lift the little brown 

 feathers under his chin, or where his chin should be. 

 Do you know how much birds can lift and loosen 

 their feathers if they wish, or how tightly they can 

 hug them.f* If you saw them held loosely on a cold 

 day or night, they would make Cock Sparrow seem a 

 much larger bird. 



If you have looked with real interest at one little 

 half-despised Sparrow, something has been left in your 

 heart which will remain and grow. 



