The Audubon Societies 227 



[The method described by this observer is the so called ecological method, by means 

 of which each species of birds is related to its preferred feeding- and nesting-areas. It 

 might also be called a natural method, since the observer studies the bird "'at home," 

 instead of in books; or, in the desultory manner of the average observer. Merely identi- 

 fying birds in the spring migration is not a sufficient background for intimate knowledge 

 of their habits and daily movements. It is, in reality, far more satisfactory to know a 

 few species intimately than a much larger number merely by names. The method given 

 above is therefore recommended as a most desirable one to follow. — A. H. W.] 



THE PHCEBE BIRDS 



Last spring, when we went up to our farm, we found that a pair of Phoebe 

 birds had built in the corner of our piazza. 



They had two httle ones. 



Pretty soon they were old enough to fly. 



The father and mother coaxed and made queer sounds until the young ones 

 flew away. 



Later the mother Phoebe laid three more eggs. " 



The 22 nd day of July the eggs hatched. 



I saw one of the birds catch a moth for the little birds. 



The birds fed their babies twenty-four times an hour. 



July 28th, my father poisoned the squash bugs with lead arsenate. 



The parents brought the squash bugs to their little ones. 



July 30th, they died. 



My father took the nest down, and it was lined with squash bugs' wings 

 covered white with lead. 



Then we took the nest and buried it with the little birds. — Robert Pills- 

 bury Merrill (age 8), Northwood Narrows, N. H. 



[The observations given above were made and recorded without aid, which adds 

 much to their value. If a lad only eight years old can see and tell so many facts about 

 one pair of birds, it is quite certain that he will learn rapidly from Nature herself, whether 

 taught at home or in school to see what is going on around him. Let us all remember 

 that our eyes were given us to see with, our ears to hear with, and our hands to feel with. 

 It is sad to think we see and hear so little in the world about us. — A. H. W.] 



A THRIFTY LITTLE FAMILY 



This year my hanging nest was inhabited by a jolly little family of Wrens. 

 The eggs were hatched by the loth day of June, and after this time the busy 

 parents kept their babies well fed. First the male would come with an insect 

 and announce his coming by his song, and at once the little ones would begin 

 to chatter, all trying to get the food first. When the male had finished, the 

 female would warn her mate, and he would come out to let her in. Then he 

 would go off after another worm. They kept up this manner of feeding until 

 the birds were ready to fly. — Carter R. Leidy (age 12), Penllyn, Pa. 



[It is an interesting point to observe which species of birds are most secretive and 

 silent when feeding the young in the nest, and which are the boldest and most uncou- 



