140 HIS RELATIONS WITH US 
count his wing and tail feathers, and measure 
his length. Excepting for exact scientifie pur- 
poses, this isnot at all necessary. Almost any 
bird in America may be perfectly identified with- 
out touching him, indeed, while he is in the 
enjoyment of his liberty in a tree. For birds 
have marked external differences, which are 
carefully set down in the books. 
The modern manuals, too, are usually fur- 
nished with a color key, the use of which is fully 
explained in them. With the help of these 
you will have little trouble in naming him. 
Above all, be exact in your knowledge and 
do not jump at conclusions. If you see a bird 
on a fruit-tree picking about the blossoms, do_ 
not decide offhand that he is spoiling the fruit ; 
look closely to see if he is not, instead, clearing 
it of worms that would destroy it all. When 
you notice a bird in a strawberry bed, do not 
instantly conclude that he is after strawberries ; 
he doesn’t care half so much for berries as he 
does for insects, and very often he is engaged in 
ridding the plants of pests, at the moment that 
he is scared off or shot by a careless person, who 
does not wait to see whether he is friend or foe. 
Although patience and clear eyes alone will 
open many delightful secrets of bird life, a good 
opera glass will do still more. It will bring you 
