BIRD ODDITIES 291 



Birds of a given variety are so much alike that 

 it is not easy to distinguish individuals, except 

 between male and female, yet by careful study 

 one may find traits which will lead to the posi- 

 tive identification of a particular bird. They 

 seem never to grow old, at least there is little 

 visible change in their appearance from year to 

 year. The plumage is glossy and well groomed 

 when they arrive in the springtime, as though 

 they were a year younger, rather than a year 

 older, and their sprightly manners and songs 

 of good cheer give no sign of advancing age. 

 No doubt many die during the long journeys, 

 and alas! many are killed by hunters in the 

 South, where laws are not generally observed. 

 But their places about our homes are filled 

 by others so closely resembling the old friends 

 that we are not able to detect the difference, 

 except by the most painstaking observations, 

 and our enjoyment of their presence goes on 

 as we have no knowledge of the change. 



Bird Company 



"And the birds sang round him, o'er him." 



— Hiawatha, Longfellow. 



My friend, the Old Guide, is an ardent bird 

 lover. During all the years he has lived in the 

 woods he has ever been alert in the study of 

 their ways, and has gained close acquaintance 

 with them. Not only has he been a careful and 

 intelligent observer, but he possesses in an 

 unusual degree that natural fondness for, and 

 sympathy with, the wild folk, both birds and 



