4 STORIES OF BIEDS AND BEASTS 



have those people done but put up a new post with no 

 hole in it ! " 



" Dear ! dear ! Think of it, think of it ! " sang the 

 Bluebird softly, taking his place on the wire with the 

 others. 



" What if these people should bring children with 

 them," continued Barney, who had not finished airing 

 his grievances " little BOYS and CATS! Children 

 who might climb up to our nests and steal our eggs, 

 boys with guns perhaps, and striped cats which no one 

 can see, with feet that make no sound, and such claws 

 and teeth it makes me shiver to think of it." And 

 all the birds shook so that the wire quivered and the 

 Bank Swallow fell off, or would have fallen, if he had 

 not spread his wings and saved himself. 



The Martin had nothing to say to this, but the little 

 Bank Swallow, though somewhat shaken up, whispered, 

 "There may be children who do not rob nests, and 

 other boys like Rap, who would never shoot us. Cats 

 are always sad things for birds, but these House People 

 may not keep any ! " And then he moved down a wire 

 or two, frightened at having given his opinion. 



At that moment a Chimney Swift joined the group. 

 This Swift, who nests in chimneys, is the sooty-colored 

 bird that flies and feeds on the wing like a Swallow, 

 and when he is in the air looks like a big spruce cone 

 with wings. He was followed by a Catbird, who had 

 been in a honeysuckle, by one of the farmhouse win- 

 dows, and peeped inside out of curiosity. Both were 

 excited and evidently bubbling over with news, which 

 half the birds of the orchard were following them to 

 hear. 



