HESS] THE BLUEBIRDS 183 



The most dangerous enemy of the bluebirds is the English 

 sparrow which is an enemy to most all other birds as well. It is 

 said that if it were not for these useless and quarrelsome birds we 

 would have bluebirds, wrens and other of our songsters as common 

 around our streets as the sparrows now are. 



It is up to even- friend of nature, ever\^ farmer and gardener, I 

 think, to do what he can to protect those birds of our native species 

 which are most worthy of such attention. 



Mr. H. Baimigaertner, whose home is in Milwaukee says, that 

 after many experiments he has found that the sparrows will not 

 use nesting boxes where the perch, right under the entrance hole, is 

 absent, while the bluebird evinces a predilection for such. He 

 uses small wooden paint kegs, bores within four or five inches from 

 the top, a one and one-half inch entrance hole, and fastens them on 

 poles or trees. If there is no perch near the entrance the sparrow 

 cannot support itself at all, or only with difficulty, while the blue- 

 bird flies in and out ver\' easily. Bird boxes made of boards vs-ith 

 only an entrance hole but without a perch will also certainly prove 

 of good service. 



The Chirrup of the Chewink 



John Watkins Mosley, Jr. 



Lawton, Oklahoma 



My beautiful birdie, as you sit on your bough, 



I wonder what God had in mind when he made you? 



It was not I am svu-e for the sweat of your brow. 



Nor the toil of your toes, nor the bugs that you chew. 



Before I could finish, \\-ith a thrill from his tongue 

 He flashed from the heart of his God a glad gleam 



And showed beyond cavil, for old and for yoimg. 

 The glory of Him who haunts in \-ision and dream. 



Then with a wonderful burst of medley and song 



He lifted the wide- world with his tongue and his tune; 



He filled it and thrilled it, brought it along 

 From doubting December to credulous June. 



'Tis the flower of field and the bird of the air 



That stiletto the doubts who stalk through the soul. 



One whiff of sweet fragrance, one chirrup I declare 

 Will soon steady my faith, will my future control. 



