TWO COMMON BIRDS 



there are few they like better than those of 

 the mountain ash. From far and near the 

 birds will gather to the feast, and there is a 

 fine tree in the garden of my home which gives 

 them an annual feast. One day it will be 

 orange with berries, the boughs bowed down 

 with the weight, but next day it will be 

 stripped, the busy blackbirds having quickly 

 relieved it of the burden. 



To go back to the subject of birds in the 

 winter time, you will notice how blackbirds and 

 thrushes fluff out their feathers in cold weather. 

 This is to keep themselves warm. The arrange- 

 ment is on the same principle as a thermos 

 flask. The feathers are in layers, and between 

 them lies air. The more the feathers are 

 fluffed out the more layers of air there are and 

 the less the warmth of the body can escape. 

 When the weather is warm the bird draws its 

 feathers tighter round it, expelling the air, and 

 so cooling itself. Feathers are really the 

 warmest and most wonderful clothing in all 

 Nature. They are laid one over the other 

 like tiles, keeping the wearer dry whatever the 

 rain, and are warm or cool wear as required. 

 No wonder the owner takes such care of them, 

 preening them whenever he has a moment to 



61 



