42 THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 



evening until after the early morning ; for these are 

 the cats' natural hunting hours, when they do the 

 greatest harm to the birds. 



This does not mean any cruelty to the cat no 

 stoning, no persecution. The cat is not at fault. It is 

 the keepers of the cats who need to be educated. Out 

 of every hundred nests in my neighborhood the cats 

 of two farmhouses destroy ninety-five! The state 

 must come to the rescue of the birds by some new 

 rigid law reducing the number of cats. 



Ill 



Speaking of birds, let me urge you to begin your 

 watching and study early with the first robins 

 and bluebirds and to select some near-by park or 

 wood-lot or meadow to which you can go frequently. 

 There is a good deal in getting intimately acquainted 

 with a locality, so that you know its trees individ- 

 ually, its rocks, walls, fences, the very qualities of its 

 soil. Therefore you want a small area, close at hand. 

 Most observers make the mistake of roaming first 

 here, then there, spending their time and observa- 

 tion in finding their way around, instead of upon 

 the birds to be seen. You must get used to your 

 paths and trees before you can see the birds that flit 

 about them. 



IV 



In this haunt that you select for your observation, 

 you must study not only the birds but the trees, and 



