Ill 



TO GET HIM HOME 



ON starting out in search of an American 

 -bird if you decide to have one the first ex- 

 perience will be discouraging. Every dealer 

 will deny that he has an American bird, in 

 spite of the mocking-birds, South American 

 parrots, and cardinal-grosbeaks which are al- 

 most always to be found in his stock. The 

 truth is, that he so little regards the birds 

 asked for that he really does not remember 

 them. If you will walk slowly down the store 

 and look for yourself into all the cages, you 

 will be almost sure to see a robin or a bluebird 

 tucked into some obscure corner as not wor- 

 thy of notice. 



Remembering this curious idiosyncrasy of 

 the dealers, which I have often noticed, you 

 must make up your mind to search for your- 

 self, and having found a bird, make arrange- 

 ments to have him taken home. The best 



