114 CITIZEN BIRD 



long tales of northern lands and assures the water- 

 moccasin that, big snake as he is, the mountain rattle- 

 snake is quicker at biting. 



" This Olive-backed Thrush you may hear more 

 often than see — he is a will-o'-the-wisp for shyness, 

 whether on his journeys or about home. But remem- 

 ber three thinofs about him : his back is evenly olive 

 (if you do not know what this dark-greenish color is, 

 look at the olives you have on the table, or that stand 

 in the tall glass jars in the grocer's window, for if you 

 wish to study birds you must learn to distinguish this 

 color from brown or the bright green) ; he has a cream- 

 yellow ring round his eye ; and, lastly, his black- 

 speckled throat and breast are dull yellowish." 



"Won't you let us go up to the wonder room now 

 and see all these Thrush cousins in a row? " asked Nat, 

 when the Doctor had finished describing tliem. 



" We will go up to the house and you may take a 

 look at them, but I want you to be also able to name 

 them from what I tell you ; for when you see a bird 

 out of doors you will seldom be able to have a stuffed 

 one with which to compare it. 



"Now we will make a procession of these cousins," 

 said the Doctor, as they reached his study. He then 

 opened a glass case, took out six birds, and stood them 

 on the window-sill. " See, this is the way they go 

 arm in arm when they walk in the great procession of 

 Bird families : 



" The Bluebird and the Robin ; 



" The Wood Thrush and the Veery ; 



"The Hermit and the Olive-back. 



