The Birds' Calendar 



a more unique companionship. And wliat a 

 great little traveller the humming-bird is, dart- 

 ing like an electric spark from torrid climes far 

 up into the arctic regions with each returning 

 spring, and back in the fall — the merest mote 

 in the vast blue expanse. What would not any 

 of us give for the opportunity of such a voyage 

 as the birds make twice a year, and in such a 

 novel, exhilarating, and thoroughly comfort- 

 able fashion ? No time-tables, no tickets, no 

 baggage. What a panorama of mountains, 

 lakes, rivers, plains, and cities spread out be- 

 neath the view in such an excursion through 

 Labrador, Canada, the New England, Middle, 

 and Southern States, Mexico, Central America, 

 and far into the tropics. But the birds do not 

 look at the matter in just this light, for they 

 travel nights and rest in the daytime. Another 

 instance of failing to appreciate one's peculiar 

 privileges, and exciting the indignant envy of 

 the less favored but more worthy. What a 

 pity that such a chance as the birds have 

 should be literally thrown to the winds. This 

 is only another aspect of the mystery involved 

 in the child's question, '' Why do all the small 

 families live in large houses, and the large 

 families in small houses?" — an inquiry hav- 



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