18 CITIZEN BIRD 



" Yes, that will do for a beginning, bnt fatlier will 

 tell you some simple names for the different parts of 

 every bird, so that your descriptions need not confuse 

 you. If every one gave his own names, no two people 

 would quite understand each other." 



*' Oh I I see a bird," whispered Dodo, pointing to the 

 grass at a little distance. ''See! it's quite as big as a 

 Pigeon and speckled all over black and brown and has 

 a red mark on the back of its neck. Please write it 

 down for me, Olive ; it takes me so long to write, and 

 I haven't seen it in front yet. There, it's turning 

 round — oh ! it has a black mark in front of its neck 

 like a cravat and it's speckled underneath. It has 

 flown a little further off and is walking up a tree, and 

 it's very white on its back where its tail begins. Oh! 

 do hear it laugh, Nat." And the Flicker, the big 

 Woodpecker with golden lining to its wings, for it was 

 he, gave out peal after peal of his jolly call-note. 



" Can't we go in now to ask Uncle Roy the names of 

 these birds, and see if he won't begin our book this 

 afternoon ? " 



" It isn't an hour yet since we came out. Come 

 down through the orchard ; I hear some Bluebirds 

 singing and perhaps you can see them. They are very 

 tame, and often make their nests in the knot holes in 

 these old trees." 



" See, Olive," said Dodo, " what is that down in the 

 grass by the fence ? It is something moving. Do you 

 think it can be any sort of a wild animal ?" 



" No, it's a boy," said Nat. " I see his head. Per- 

 haps he has come to catch some birds. Let's drive him 

 away." 



