The Birds and Poets iji 



Contrary to the popular notion, however, there 

 are more kinds of birds to be seen in this latitude 

 in October than in midsummer, if one will but 

 seek them out, for the southward march of the 

 army of autumn migrants, which reaches its flood 

 in September, continues with gradually diminish- 

 ing numbers well through the month of October. 



A few of our birds which are commonly known 

 as permanent residents might be properly called 

 non-migratory. Some of them may move a bit 

 southward in winter, but the distance travelled is 

 comparatively short, while others of the species 

 nesting a few miles north of us, within the breeding 

 range, come down to us in winter and take the 

 place of those that have gone. Among these birds 

 may be mentioned the ruffed grouse, the quail, 

 cardinal, robin and meadowlark. The grouse and 

 quail are strictly non-migratory, for many of these 

 birds spend the sum of their days within the radius 

 of a few miles of the nest where they were hatched. 



George Cooper furnishes the following autumn 

 picture of Bobwhite: 



"I see you on the zigzag rails, 



You cheery little fellow! 

 While purple leaves are whirling down, 



And scarlet, brown and yellow, 

 I hear you when the air is full 



Of snow-down of the thistle; 

 All in your speckled jacket trim, 



'Bobwhite! Bobwhite!' you whistle.'' 



