AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



149 



BIRD CHATvS WITH OUR YOUNG FRIENDS. 

 Address communications to Meg Merrythought, 156 Waterville St.^ 

 Waterbury, Ct. 



My Dear Young Folks: 



Your vacation good times are almost here, but this is the season when 

 the birds are busy from morning to night finding food for the hungry 

 nestlings. 



If any of you have ever tried to feed a young captive Robin, you 

 have a faint idea of the task of mother and father Robins in caring for 

 several broods during the summer. The mouths always seem to be 

 stretched for more, luoir. 



I saw a Robin carrying worms to little ones the third week in April, 

 and wondered how many families he would raise in his dobe house. 

 He must have begun plastering before — "chinks in April's windy dome 

 let through a day in June," and before May came doubtless he was 

 April fooled." 



A little later in the branches above Robin's nest, two Brown Thrashers 

 sang a rollicking duet, for hours, with heads up, tails drooping, not 

 two feet apart, each trying, so it seemed, to out do the other. 



Now, the favored listener will hear but the soft love song by the nest 

 — the sweetest song of all. 



However, there are a few birds who sing merrily on through the 

 summer's heat, who among you will tell me their names? 



We would again remind you to send the replies also with puzzles you. 

 wish to have printed in our corner. 



Cordially, your friend, 



Meg Merrythought. 



