90 ,BIRD WORLD. 



" Okalee." He has many other notes and whistles ; 

 in fact the blackbird is a noisy and talkative bird, 

 particularly at bedtime, and flocks of them make the 

 marshes ring before they settle down to sleep. If 

 a larger bird flies into the neighborhood, the black- 

 birds chase him, calling and whistling, much disturbed 

 till he has disappeared. 



The winter freezes the northern swamps, and 

 drives the blackbirds into southern states, but the 

 first warm March morning finds them in the north 

 again. The males come first in great flocks, and 

 wait for their partners. It is always a question 

 whether the first spring bird will be a Bluebird or 

 the Red-winged Blackbird. 



Later in this book you will read about Bird Fami- 

 lies, different kinds of birds who are related to each 

 other, just as you have distant cousins having different 

 names. When you come to know what birds make 

 up the family to which the Red-winged Blackbird 

 belongs, you will have some very interesting acquaint- 

 ances. • The Bobolink, the Oriole, the lazy Cowbird, 

 and the Meadow Lark are among them. 



What different habits these creatures have ! One 

 nests in the long grass, one in tall elms, one in the 

 swamps, and one makes no nest at all. 



