The Birds' World 85 



April day, calling and trimming to the wind; have we any more inspiring sight, 

 anything more suggestive of freedom and joy of flight ? 



Locate a pair of any one of these four Hawks; do not disturb them, but from 

 -a screen of brush or other cover watch their daily life and comings and goings 

 with a good field-glass, and I believe you will soon droj) out from the class of 

 people who seize a gun every time the word Hawk is mentioned. 



If \ou wish three months of bird vaudeville, I commend you to watch a familv 

 of Screech Owls, if you can by any chance locate one. From the moment the 

 nestlings are hatched and visible at the nest-hole (they remain a long time in 

 the nest) until their parents have, in late summer, completed their training in 

 •all the flying tactics known to these little birds of wisdom, with much snapping 

 of beaks and warning cries of ^^ Shay-shay-shay! ^^ these are of incomparable 

 interest, and furnish unexpected amusement to those who do not know. 



Screech Owls are early birds and begin to nest in early April, as do also the 

 Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks; so 'watch out' lest the season slip 

 away before you locate your family. M O W 



THE BIRDS' WORLD 



'I lived first in a little house, 



And lived there very well; 

 I tho't the world was small and round. 



And made of pale blue shell. 



'I lived next in a little nest, 



Nor needed any other; 

 I tho't the world was made of straw, 



And brooded by my mother. 



'One day I fluttered from the nest. 



To see what I could find; 

 I said The world is made of leaves, 



I have been very blind.' 



At length I flew beyond the tree, 

 Quite fit for grown-up labors; 



I don't know how the world is made, 

 And neither do my neighbors." 



— Anon 



