OVERTURE BY THE BIRDS 7 



mind that there are no common birds ; for every one of 

 them has something very uncommon about it.' 



'' Then our brother B. Oriole began to sing in the 

 sugar maple over the shed. The sun was shining on 

 his gay coat ; the little girl pointed to him and whis- 

 pered, '- Hush, Nat ! you see Olive is right ; please 

 empty the stones out of your pocket.' " 



The Chimney Swift had hardly finished his story 

 when there was another excitement. 



"NeAvs, more news! " called the Bank Swallow joy- 

 fully. He had been taking a skim over the meadows 

 and orchard. "These House People do not keep cats! " 



" They may not have any now, but that doesn't 

 prove they never will," said a Robin crossly. He had 

 just flown against a window, not understanding about 

 the glass, and had a headache in consequence. 



" They never will keep cats^"" insisted the little Swal- 

 low boldly. 



" How do you know ? " asked the birds in one breath. 



" Because they keep dogs ! " said Bankey, twittering 

 with glee ; '' two nice dogs. One big and buff and bushy, 

 with a much finer tail than the proudest fox you ever 

 saw ; and the other small and white with some dark 

 spots, and as quick as a squirrel. This one has a short 

 tail that sticks up like a Wren's and a nose like a 

 weasel ; one ear stands up and the other hangs down ; 

 and he has a terrible wink in one eye. Even a poor 

 little Bank Swallow knows that where one of these 

 dogs lives the Bird People need not fear either cats 

 or rats ! " 



" I love dogs," said the black-and-white Downy 

 Woodpecker, running up a telegraph pole in search o 



