CHAPTER XXIII 

 A LAUGHING FAMILY 



When the children had their uncle with them, and 

 could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name 

 the birds. But when they were alone it was quite a 

 different matter. The birds had a way of moving on, 

 at exactly the wrong moment. Of course they made 

 some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite 

 discouraged. 



" I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no 

 time," said Nat to Olive, one morning ; ''but Tm only 

 pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about 

 ten more when they sit still and let me take a good 

 look at them." 



" I think that is doing very well, indeed, for Avatcli- 

 ing live birds is not a bit like learning rules and fig- 

 ures by heart. Tliough your tables give you some 

 facts about birds' colors and habits, every bird has 

 some little ways and tricks of his very own that are 

 always a surprise ; and then, you see, a bird in the 

 hand looks very different from a bird in the bush ! " 



" I suppose that is why uncle Avants us to go out 

 to see for ourselves, instead of telling us stories every 

 day. This morning, when I was over in the miller's 

 woods, where we heard the Wliip-poor-will, I saw the 

 queerest bird, running up a tree ; he let me come close 

 to, without being frightened. 



30G 



