CONTENTS 



PART I 



The Value of Birds 



A. Their Esthetic Value as a Subject for Study 



I. Bird Travelers 1 



Discovery of America — Changes due to migration — 

 Regularity of migration — Distances birds travel — 

 Winter homes — Speed and height — Routes of migra- 

 tion — How birds find their way — Causes of migra- 

 tion. 



II. Bird Music 13 



Why birds sing — Season of song — Time of day of 

 song — Music of songs — Methods of recording songs — 

 Similarity to human music — Classification of songs — 

 Variations in songs — Call-notes. 



III. Bird Homes 26 



Time of building — Location of nests — Materials — 

 Shape — Time occupied in building — Nesting-habits 

 of cowbird — Number of broods — Change in nesting- 

 habits. 



IV. Home Life of Birds 33 



Eggs — Incubation — Condition of young when 

 hatched — Feeding young — Brooding young — A house 

 wren's day — Care after leaving nest — Enemies of 

 nestlings. 



V. Colors and Plumage of Birds 44 



Moulting — Change due to wear — Changes in color 

 — Differences due to sex ^ Protective coloration. 



VI. How TO Know the Birds 48 



Attractions of bird-study — Identification of birds — 

 Where to find birds — When to find birds — How to 

 study birds — What to study — Bird-photography — 

 Table of fifty common land-birds. 



