g6 love's meinie. 



younger readers, in classing birds, to think 

 of them literally from top to toe — from toe 

 to top I should say, — foot, body, and head, 

 studying, with the body, the wings that bear 

 it ; and with the head, what brains it can 

 bring to bear on practical matters, and what 

 sense on sentimental. But indeed, primarily, 

 you have to consider whether the bird alto- 

 gether may not be little more than a fat, 

 cheerful little stomach, in a spotted -waist- 

 coat, and with legs to it. That is the main 

 definition of a great many birds — meant 

 to eat all day, chiefly, grubs, or grain — not 

 at all, unless under wintry and calamitous 

 conditions, meant to fast painfully, or be 

 in concern about their food. Faultless in 

 digestion — dinner lasting all day long, with 

 the delight of social intercourse — various 

 chirp and chatter. Flying or fluttering in a 

 practical, not stately, manner : hopping and 

 creeping intelligently. Sociable to man ex- 

 tremely, building and nestling and rustling 

 about him, — prying and speculating, curiously 

 watchful of him at his work, if likely to be 

 profitable to themselves, or even sometimes 

 in mere pitying sympathy, and wonder how 



