where it is regularly found at all. It moves up the Mississippi Valley in immense 

 flocks, deploying over the prairies, and keeping company with such birds as the 

 Bartramian sandpiper and the golden plover. When feeding in extensive com- 

 panies the birds keep up a conversational chattering, which Coues likens to that 

 of a flock of blackbirds. 



In Labrador, where these curlews have been most closely studied, they are 

 found to feed largely upon the cow berry (Empctrum nigram), so greedily, in 

 fact that their plumage often becomes stained with its purple juice. Upon this 

 fare, together with a generous allowance of sea food in the shape of snails, the 

 birds become excessively fat, and are in prime condition for the unreluctant 

 gunner in August or early September. 



April Rain 



O the dashing, April rain 



Making crystal-clear the pane 

 Of the window in my lilac-scented room! 



The quick flashing of bird-wings 



And the freshened glow of things 

 Cause my soul to rise in triumph o'er the gloom. 



— Millie Noel Long. 



The English Sparrow 



By Saidee Gerard RuthraufF 



Aly eyes are filed with star-dust and the wonder of the Spring, 

 And they see the plain brown sparrow as a shining, glorious thing ! 

 O, I know he's dull of color, and I know he doesn't sing; 

 Yet the Love that clothes the sunset put the color on his wing, 

 And the Mind that thought the star-dust and the wonder of the Spring 

 Put Himself into the sparrow, for He lives in everything, 

 And He must have had a reason why the sparrow doesn't sing, 

 And He must have had a reason when He made him plain of wing ! 



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