OVERTURE BY THE BIRDS 1 



mind that there are no common birds ; for every one of 

 them has something very uncommon about it.' 



" Then our brother B. Oriole began to sing in the 

 sugar maple over the shed. The sun was shining on 

 his gay coat ; the little girl pointed to him and whis- 

 pered, 4 Hush, Nat ! you see Olive is right ; please 

 empty the stones out of your pocket.' ' 



The Chimney Swift had hardly finished his story 

 when there was another excitement. 



"News, more news!" called the Bank Swallow joy- 

 fully. He had been taking a skim over the meadows 

 and orchard. "These House People do not keep cats! " 



"They may not have any now, but that doesn't 

 prove they never will," said a Robin crossly. He had 

 just flown against a window, not understanding about 

 the glass, and had a headache in consequence. 



" They never will keep cats" insisted the little Swal- 

 low boldly. 



"How do you know?" asked the birds in one breath. 



" Because they keep dogs ! " said Bankey, twittering 

 with glee; "two nice dogs. One big and buff and bushy, 

 with a much finer tail than the proudest fox you ever 

 saw ; and the other small and white with some dark 

 spots, and as quick as a squirrel. This one has a short 

 tail that sticks up like a Wren's and a nose like a 

 weasel ; one ear stands up and the other hangs down ; 

 and he has a terrible wink in one eye. Even a poor 

 little Bank Swallow knows that where one of these 

 dogs lives the Bird People need not fear either cats 

 or rats! " 



" I love dogs," said the black-and-white Downy 

 Woodpecker, running up a telegraph pole in search of 



