124 



AMERICAN OKNITHOLOGY. 



Address Communications for this department to 



Meg Merrythought, 156 Waterville Street, 



Waterbury, Ct. 



My Dear Young Folks: 



How eagerly we shall welcome the first heralds of spring who an- 

 nounce the Coming of a bird host within a month's time. Here in Con- 

 necticut we shall think spring has really come when the first cheery 

 notes of the song sparrow greet us, though there have been a few 

 brave fellows who have staid with us through the winter's cold and 

 snows. 



How delightful a place Windham, Vermont must be, where the 

 "English Sparrows are wholly unknown." Who among our boys and 

 girls can teil us of another place where the saucy intruder is conspicu- 

 ous by his absence. 



The Stranger Bird of which Sally Orvis told in February was pro- 

 bably a Pine Grosbeak. 



We cannot put the blame on the printer this time for a mistake in 

 last month's magizine, where an Acrostic was given with its answer 

 also. We shall be careful not to make a puzzle so easy for you again. 



One bright day not long ago, we made a call on a brown screech 

 owl out in the woods. He sat on a limb of an immense dead oak, just 

 in front of his circular doorway, with his soft mottled feathers flufifed 

 out, taking a sun-bath. He sat perfectly motionless and might easily have 

 been mistaken for a Cluster of brown leaves upon the bough. He was 

 not very polite, for as soon as we came near, he withdrew within his 

 hollow tree and pretended he was not at home, thougn he must have 

 been heard our repeated knocks. Perhaps he thought we cameto settle 

 with him for sundry stolen breakfasts, dinners and suppers, though he 

 did not look as if his conscience troubled him. 



Cordially your friend, 

 Meg Merrythought. 



