SCARING THE RICE-BIRD. 135 



countries, where people grow rice as we grow corn. When the plants are 

 getting ripe, the rice-birds, as they are called, come and do a great deal of 

 mischief. 



It is not easy to drive them away, because the rice plants grow in mud 

 and water, and boys cannot run about scaring the birds as they do in England. 

 But another plan is adopted. 



There are curious little huts set up in the field on long poles, and a man 

 sits in each of them. A great many strings go from hut to hut, with bits 

 of paper tied on them to serve as scarecrows. The men in the huts keep 

 pulling the strings, and making the bits of paper dance up and down with a 

 rustling noise. 



Every time the string is pulled, a flock of birds rise up and fly away; but 

 they soon come back again, and contrive to eat so much that they get very 

 fat indeed. 



This is rather fatal to them, for the native thinks they are very nice to 

 eat, and kills and cooks as many as he can. 



The rice-bird is often painted by the Chinese on his rice-paper, and a 

 rather grotesque figure he makes of it. 



THE CHAFFINCH. 



The chaffinch is much more common than the goldfinch, and is seen every- 

 where in the gardens and the orchards. He is almost as familiar as the 

 sparrow, but wears a gayer costume. The upper part of his head and neck 

 is a greyish blue, and he has a black band on his forehead. His back is of 

 a reddish brown, and his breast has a purple tint ; and, altogether, though not 

 so brilliant as the goldfinch, he is a handsome and attractive bird. 



The mother chaffinch is much smaller than her mate, and not so gaily 

 dressed. 



The chaffinch has no song of any importance, but he utters a note that 

 sounds like " tweet, tweet/' as quick as possible, and sometimes with rather a 



