SoxGS AND Call Notes. 169 



CliUsick I Chixs'i,-],- ! has lightened the (hihiess of 

 many a dreary London day for me, and I liave 

 tried to repay him by a noontide dole of crumbs 

 spread upon the sill of my office window. A 

 friendly car])enter fixed me a hiij^li drauL;ht board 

 at the foot of this window, and 1 drilled a hole in 

 it with a Ljimlet in order that 1 mi«_;ht watch my 

 yrimy visitors consume their share of my hmeli. 



The best time to hear Nature's clioir is about 

 t'our o'clock on a line still mornini,^ during- the tirst 

 week in .lune. when ilie aii- is cool .ind sweet and 

 every blade of i^^rass beai's its twinkling- diamond of 

 dew. Then each busli .nid tree appeai-s lo possess 

 its win<_;"ed vocalist, poin-ini;- forth such an ever- 

 swellinL:' flood (»f music thai llie \-ei-y air aiound 

 seems to palpilalu with joy, and one wonders 

 if even llea\cn itself can be half so sweet and 

 glorious. I liax'e. happily, known many such L^i'aiid 

 mornings, and the i(lad i-ciuembrance of tlR'm is 

 a priceless possession. Take luy advice, boys and 

 nirls : don your stroni^a^st boots and i^o out to heai' 

 the birds siiiL;' their lirst niornini^^ hymn — it is the 

 freshest and i^datldest of all the day. 



" IJut why do birds sing ( ' ask some of my young 

 friends of me. For several reasons. First and fore- 

 most, 1 should say, because they are creatures of 

 abundant health and spirits, and, like human beings, 

 givt' vent to tlu'ir overiiowing happiness in song. 

 Tiiey also sing from rivalry a great deal, and with 

 such vehemence that they have been known to drop 



