24 Bird -Lore 



bird lit on a dead stump, thrust in her bill and pulled out a worm 

 an inch long. She flew off with it to another stump and twisted her 

 head around until she swallowed it. 



The Woodpecker's nest may be in a low tree or in a high one, 

 and it is lined with grass and feathers. The male is black above, 

 striped with white. The tail is wedge-shaped and is used to stick in 

 the limbs when resting or eating. There is a black stripe on his 

 head, white over and under his eyes, while there is a red patch on 

 the back of his neck. 



A week later, on February 25, we went on another walk in 

 search of birds. This time we climbed upon a hillside. In a short 

 time we counted seventeen or eighteen Robins' nests, and better 

 than all, we saw our first Robin. He had probably been in that 

 locality all winter. He looked as if he had not had much to eat. 

 He ran along the ground, stopping now and then to try to pick up 

 a worm or bug. He seemed to enjoy his breakfast. 



We were glad to spy the Junco or Snowbird. He is slate-col- 

 ored, with gray breast. When he flies you see that the outer tail- 

 feathers are white, and the under ones are blue or dark slate-colored. 

 A friend of mine saw a large flock of J uncos a few days ago, 



We had the good luck to see a Chickadee. The Chickadee 

 is a small bird. It has no crest. In color it is gray or brownish. 

 There are patches of black on it. In fact, the throat, chin and head 

 are black, with streaks of white on head, breast, wing and tail. 

 The white is not clear, but dirty looking. Our Chickadee stuck his 

 head in a knothole in a telephone pole. 



There were two Song Sparrows to greet us. They sang very 

 sweetly, raising their heads when they sang. They have brown 

 heads, and there are brown stripes on the throat. Their back is 

 brownish gray. The breast is gray, shading to white. There are 

 brown or black spots on the breast and wings. One of the Spar- 

 rows was in some brush, or growth of small trees. They are dear 

 little birds, and we like to see and hear them. 



We saw a Black-billed Cuckoo's nest, made flat, out of straw. 

 There was no mud nor hair in it. 



We saw several Vireo's nests, which are round like a little pot, 

 in the forks of trees. 



Last of all, in a large field we saw a Horned Lark. Its note 

 sounds like two or three shrill notes, and then like a water whistle. 

 This Lark is larger than the Sparrow, and is a brownish gray color. 

 It has two little horns on its head. 



We did not find the Hairy Woodpecker, but he is about. 



What a pleasure it was to see these birds and their nests ! 



