DAYS WITH OUR BIRDS. 11 



Tireo. Ah, yes, we have about us, iu uuexpeeted places, a wealth 

 ■of bird-life. If evei^body knew this, aud appreciated it, we 

 might be still more blessed as the years go on, for then everybody 

 would contrive to keep natural shelter aud food for the birds, and 

 the birds would pay their board and lodging with interest. 



After these introductory remarks, bj' means of stereopticou 

 pictures of New England scenery and birds, the audience en- 

 joyed a series of spring and summer bird-hunting strolls. First 

 along an April road, a flock of croAv-blackbirds were found, 

 creaking and chucking iu the tops of tall oaks. This bird, 

 said the lecturer, bears an unpleasant reputation among growers 

 of corn and fruit, aud yet he is distinctly an insectivorous bird, 

 aud eminent authorities who have dissected hundreds of them, at 

 all times of the year, find only trifling evidence of vegetable diet. 

 Their case is precisely that of the robin. They are so gregarious 

 and so numerous, that no ill-doing on their part escapes observa- 

 tion. If any one is inclined to shoot either of these birds, he 

 should not do so before looking over such unbiased reports as 

 those found in B. H. Warren's "Birds of Pennsylvania." 



The bluebird's warble came from over the fields, very plainl}" 

 suggested by the speaker's imitation, aud the old favorite, in 

 glowing plumage, was seen sitting on a fence-post. Here is a 

 bird of whose usefulness there is never a question. Will not 

 everybody who lives where bluebirds could possibly come, 

 put out a house or a box to catch their fancy when they arrive in 

 March? To be sure, the English sparrows, if preseut in your 

 neighborhood, may take possession ; still, the bluebird is a 

 plucky fellow and knows how to look out for number one, as the 

 purple martin knows to his sorroAV. 



The familiar song sparrow was heard aud seen, singing beside 

 the meadow brook, and his relations of the finch family were also 

 introduced — the chipping sparrow with his hair nest in the 

 orchard ; the vesper sparrow of the dry hillside ; the white- 

 throated sparrow with his clear "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, 

 Peabody," whistle, and the handsome crimson finch (American 

 linnet), with his craving for the spring buds of certain trees. But 

 what matter for this ? Did anyone ever miss the small number of 

 leaves or orchard fruit that these birds nip in the bud? Aud how 

 short is the season iu which they can commit this mischief. Of 



