10 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



about their work, shelling the seeds from big and 

 little plants, and picking up what have fallen to 

 the ground. Happy-go-lucky birds they are when 

 they are out of the farmer's reach. And their 

 songs are very sweet. The linnets are among our 

 very finest singers. Pleasant of voice, they never 

 scold, nor " scrap" with other birds. They love 

 our homes. 



Before we brought fruit trees to California, and 

 so began to hate the linnets, the Mexicans were 

 very kind to these birds. Early travelers tell us 

 they nested on window-shelves, under cornices, in 

 the tiles of the roofs, on any little break in the 

 adobe house walls, and even on the picket fences. 

 The native people were fond of them, and not 

 a child harmed them. They were called the 

 "adobe-bird," because they loved to be around 

 the adobe houses. 



In the cities of California, the linnets build in 

 shade-trees along the streets. But they are shy, 

 the male keeping well out of sight. Their nests 

 are robbed and the old birds persecuted, even 

 though there is no fruit for them to steal. 



If the city children knew all the fun there is in 

 taming the linnets, they would not miss it for the 

 world. 



We will tell you a little of what we have done. 



