76 CITIZEN BIRD 



light breast streaked with bhxck, who was clinging to a 

 slender spray, jerking his long tail while he sang. 



'' It seems as if I could almost hear the words he 

 says," said Rap. 



'' Birds sing in many different tones," said the Doc- 

 tor. " The Thrasher's song is like some one talking 

 cheerfully; the Meadowlark's is flute-like ; the Oriole's 

 is more like clarion notes ; the Bobolink bubbles over 

 like a babbling brook ; while the dear little brown 

 striped Song Sparrow, who is with us in hedge and 

 garden all the year, sings pleasant home-like ballads." 



" There are some birds that Olive told me can't sing 

 a bit," said Nat, '' but only call and squeak. How do 

 they ask their mates to marry them ? " 



"All birds have alarm cries, and a call-note that 

 serves the same purpose as a song, although it may not 

 seem at all musical to us. We are naturally more in- 

 terested in that order of birds whose voices are the 

 most perfectly developed. These not only sing when 

 they are courting, but all the time their mates are sit- 

 ting upon the eggs, and until the young are ready to 



fly-" 



" Why do birds always Iniild nests in spring ? " asked 

 Nat. 



" I think because there is more for them to feed the 

 little ones with, than when it gets to be hot and dry," 

 said Rap, " and it gives them time to grow big and 

 strong before winter comes, when they must go away." 



" Quite right, Rap, and it also gives the parents a 

 chance to shed the old feathers that have been worn by 

 rubbing on the nest, grow a new, thick, warm coat for 

 winter, and rest themselves before they set out on their 



