76 CITIZEN BIRD 



light breast streaked with black, who was clinging to a 

 slender spray, jerking his long tail while he sang. 



'^ It seems as if I could almost hear the words he 

 says," said Rap. 



" Birds sing in many different tones," said the Doc- 

 tor. " The Thrasher's song is like some one talking 

 cheerfully; the Meadowlark's is flute-like ; the Oriole's 

 is more like clarion notes ; the Bobolink bubbles over 

 like a babbling brook ; while the dear " little brown 

 striped Song Sparrow, who is wdth us in hedge and 

 garden all the year, sings pleasant home-like ballads." 



" There are some birds that Olive told me can't sing 

 a bit," said Nat, '' but only call and squeak. How do 

 they ask tlieir mates to marry them ? " 



"All birds have alarm cries, and a call-note that 

 serves the same purpose as a song, although it may not 

 seem at all musical to us. We are naturally more in- 

 terested in that order of birds whose voices are the 

 most perfectly developed. These not only sing when 

 they are courting, but all the time their mates are sit- 

 ting upon the eggs, and until the young are ready to 



fly-" 



" Why do birds always build nests in spring ? " asked 

 Nat. 



" I think because there is more for them to feed the 

 little ones with, than when it gets to be hot and dry," 

 said Rap, '' and it gives them time to grow big and 

 strong before winter comes, when they must go away." 



" Quite right. Rap, and it also gives the parents a 

 chance to shed the old feathers that have been worn by 

 rubbing on the nest, grow a new, thick, warm coat for 

 winter, and rest themselves before they set out on their 



