PKKFACK 'I'n TIlAi 11 KP.S" I-DI'I'IOX 



WiiiLK tlic time avail;Ll)l(i lor zoulogical studies in 

 our schools is too limited to permit of more than the 

 treatment in outline of most of the classes of ani- 

 mals, the fact is now recognized that birds ])ossess 

 unusual claiius to oui' attention. They are practi- 

 cally the only ones of the hiiiher auiuuds with which 

 we may come in contact daily. ( )ur large mammals 

 have citlici' heen exterminated or di'iven from the 

 vicinity of our homes, while most of the smaller 

 species are nocturnal, and, therefore, rarely seen. 

 lt<'ptil('s and l»atra( liians are difficult to observe and 

 are not })opular: while tishes, from the nature of 

 their haunts, can be studied only under certain con- 

 ditions. ]>irds, luMvever, are everywhere: in lield 

 and wood and sky, in our orchards and gardens; 

 and some of them are with us at all seasons. 



iJiit hii'ds' merits do not consist merely in tlieii* 

 abundaiu'e. In beauty of plumage, grace of mo- 

 tion, an<l vocnl ability they are without I'ivals: in 

 tlieii' migration, maliuLi-, and nesting habits they 

 not oidy display iiiuisiial intelligence, but exhibit 

 liuman ti'aits of cliai-.-ictei' that create within us a 

 feeling of kinslii)) with them, and thus iiu'rease 

 otn' iiitei'est in :iii(I lo\-e for them. I''in'thei"moi'e, 

 as with increasing know h'dge we begin to realize 

 their economic value, we are more than ever im- 



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