BEGINNING OF THE BIRD STORIES 91 



one or two are quite good musicians, but the great 

 chorus comes from the males. 



'' These have their seasons for singing, and are not 

 in equal voice during the entire year. They sing most 

 persistently from the time the}^ put on their spring 

 coat, until after the nesting season, when they take it 

 off. In early autumn some species sing for a time, 

 and in warm climates there is more or less music all 

 winter ; but the great morning and evening chorus 

 belongs to spring and the nesting season. It is as 

 rare to hear the perfect song of a bird in autumn, 

 as it is to see its perfect plumage. The young birds 

 of the season are then swelling their little throats in 

 trvinsr to warble a few notes : and as their feathers 

 are a mixture of those worn by their father and 

 mother, such birds and their songs will both, most 

 likely, confuse you. 



" When you find a strange bird, try to see quickly 

 a few of the things most necessary to naming him. I 

 will make a measure of your middle finger for you 

 such as Olive used to wear. Then you must try to 

 answer tlie following questions : 



" How many inches long was he? 



" What was his general color ? 



" Was his breast plain or speckled ? 



"What was he doing — feeding on the ground or in 

 a tree ? 



" Did he walk with one foot after the other, or hop 

 with both feet together ? 



" Did he sing or only call ? 



"At first you may only remember two or three of 

 these questions, and they will probably be his size, 



