BIRD PASSPORTS, 1 15 



" But what," you ask, " has this to do with birds ? " 

 Only this : the birds are the greatest travelers in the 

 world. They must go, in the different seasons of the 

 year, where the food they need is most plentiful. If 

 they do not have to " sow or reap or gather into 

 barns," it is also true that they must glean and forage 

 day by day to meet their needs. They are happiest 

 in summer time in northern latitudes ; but when frost 

 comes and the insects are safe in winter cocoons, they 

 must go where summer heat lasts the long year 

 through. Traveling is not so much a pastime as a 

 necessity. 



Going high over our heads, they do not ask our 

 leave. Their frequent way stations are the tree tops, 

 the marsh grasses, and all sorts of open or hidden 

 ways. Some go singing, like the old-time Troubadours. 



The migration of different kinds of birds is becom- 

 ing better known every year, and as they are interest- 

 ing visitors we are all glad to know when they wall 

 come our way, and how w^e may know them as they 

 pass. While they accept our hospitality without ask- 

 ing for it, with very few exceptions (hardly worthy 

 to be named), they are of the greatest service to us. 

 Longfellow's " Birds of Killingworth " tells what this 

 service is. 



Now, I am sure you can see how it is that an exact 

 description of every known bird would be of great use 



