How to Attract the Birds 



proach with his gun, when their autumn flocks are 

 resting awhile among us, near enough to rake the 

 last innocent 



HOW SOME BIRDS TRAVEL 



In spring some happy couples, already mated, 

 travel northward together ; or, all the males may 

 come in one flock, a sort of bachelor's club, ungal- 

 lantly leaving the females to find their way alone. 

 Then, how these same bachelors sing to advertise 

 their locality when possible mates are expected to 

 arrive ! 



Different species have different traveling meth- 

 ods, and even the same species does not always 

 follow the same method in spring and fall. Some of 

 the wild ducks, for instance, which go southward in 

 large family parties, return in mated couples, very 

 tenderly attached to each other one might think 

 who had never observed the dandified drake calmly 

 desert his partner just as soon as nursery duties 

 threaten to interfere with his leisure and pleasure. 

 The devoted phoebe, in his somber drab suit, sits 

 about near last year's nest very early in spring, call- 

 ing repeatedly to a mate that may be many miles 

 away; but in a few days how unerringly she finds 

 the old home, and the faithful lover waiting at the 

 trysting-place beside the bridge to welcome her ! 

 The joy of such reunited lovers puts a song into 

 the heart of all beholders. 



When the cares of a young family beset them, 

 and when old feathers must be replaced by new ones 

 during July and August, birds are seldom sociable. 



