. 



THE LINNET. 



HE linnets are our nearest neigh- 

 bors. The only reason why they 

 do not live in the house with us 

 is because they are shut out by 



Jsfjjjjir^^ the screens. We love them. We 

 ^J invite them to stay with us. We plant 

 many things on purpose for them. 

 We feed them at the garden-table. 



But many people do not love them. The pretty 

 birds are persecuted in ways we do not care to 

 describe. They are shot, poisoned, stoned, hated 

 more than any other birds in the Southwest. And 

 for what reason? Why, 

 farmers say they " eat their 

 fruit-buds in the spring, 

 and what fruit there is left 

 in summer-time." 



Well, it 's true that lin- 

 nets do eat some fruit- 

 buds. But the whole truth 

 is, they never take half as 

 many as they ought. It 



REFERENCE TOPICS. 



What is adobe ? 



Adobe houses. 



Spanish colonization of 

 California. 



Uses of birds in milli- 

 nery. 



Wanton destruction of 

 birds for millinery 

 trade. 



Herons and aigrettes. 



Fruit-drying industry. 



