INTRODUCTION 



its habits at home and afield, and the range and beauty 

 of its song. 



Osteology, like geology, is permanent. Bird habits 

 and bird behavior present great flexibility in mannerism, 

 and a careful observer may see new stories in any day's 

 visit with his feathered friends. Those true to types 

 set by learned ornithologists, only prove that there are 

 exceptions: hence, credence should be given to investi- 

 gators who find and recognize those exceptions. 



Many birds, by force of circumstances, change their 

 habits and extend or vary their diet, as may be seen when 

 the Osprey's nest, or that of the Great Blue Heron, is 

 found upon the ground; or when the Cardinal, looked 

 upon as a seed and grain eating bird, does not taboo a 

 nice fat angleworm; and since the automobile has sup- 

 planted the horse in our cities, the English Sparrow has 

 changed its dietetic requirements and busies itself col- 

 lecting foliage-destroying pests, or, perchance, stealing 

 the angleworms from the bill of the industrious Robin. 



