GREETINGS FROM CITIZEN BIRD 



TO THE CHILDREN WHO NOW READ 

 THESE STORIES 



It was twenty-five years ago, when our friend the 

 Doctor first went out with Olive, Nat, Rap, and Dodo to 

 watch us, learn our names, see how we live, where we go, 

 and what we eat. He called us Citizens of the great out- 

 door Republic, and said that we ought to go free every- 

 where, and never be caged or bought and sold. We, the 

 birds that sing or at some time of the year eat the creep- 

 ing things on flower, leaf, or branch that waste man's food. 



When ]\Iammy Bun told you how down in Louisiana 

 where she came from the children stole little Mocking 

 Birds from the nest and sold them three for a quarter, — 

 the Doctor said it must not be allowed, and he and the 

 Wise Men thought and worked year in and year out until 

 we have come truly to be Citizens and protected, so far 

 as law may do it.^ 



But children, you who will be lawmakers in your turn, it 

 is in your hands to see that these laws are kept in spirit 

 and in letter. INIany more of you go out into the fields and 

 woods now than when Nat and Dodo were children. 



More people know about us and our ways than then. 



^ For the Laws protecting migrating birds in the United States and 

 Canada see p. 435. 



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