and its habits are in a general way very similar. There is the same disparity 

 between the dress of the sexes, the color of the female being comparatively dull 

 and lioniely. Tiic male, liowcver, is a gay [>hiniagcd dandy in his suit of turquoise 

 blue, and is likely to surprise the stranger who meets him for the first time, since 

 his colors suggest a tropical setting and are somewhat out of keeping with his 

 surroundings. Notwithstanding his fine feathers, he is not so fond of dispUiying 

 himself as is his cousin, the indigo bird, but seems to think that the cover of brush 

 and chapparral is essential to his safety. The lazuli finch is a cheerful singer, and 

 its song may be heard at frequent iiiter\als. This S'Ong is vivacious and pleasing 

 and the Easterner who hear.-^ it for the first time will have no difficulty in guessing 

 at the identity of the chorister, from the resemblance of his lay to the ditty of the 

 indigo bird. 



The Chickadee 



By Sidney Dayre 



"Were it not fore mc. 

 Said a chickadee. 



Not a single flower on earth would be : 

 For under the ground they soundly sleep. 

 And never venture an upward peep. 



Till they hear from me, 



Giickadee — dee — dee ! 



"I tell Jack Frost when 'tis time to go 

 And carry away the ice and snow ; 

 And then I iiint to the jolly old sun, 

 '.\ little spring work, sir, should be done.' 



And he smiles around 



On the frozen ground. 



And I keep up my cheery, cheery sound. 



Till echo declares in glee, in glee : 



'Tis he! 'tis he! 



The Ciiickadee — dee ! 



"And I awaken the birds of Spring — 

 'Ho, ho! 'Tis time to be on the wing.' 

 They trill and twitter and soar aloft, 

 .'Vnd I send the winds to whisper soft. 

 Down by the little flower beds. 

 Saying, 'Come show your pretty heads! 



The spring is coming, you see, you see !' 



For so sings he, 



The Chickadee — dee !" 



388 



