oe 
— 
ZESTHETIC RELATIONS OF BIRDS, 11 
for me only as a name, now became an inhabitant of my 
woods, a part of my life. With what a new interest I 
got down my books again, eagerly reading every item 
concerning this new friend ; its travels, habits, and notes ; 
comparing the observations of others with what were 
now my own! 
The study of birds is not restricted to any special sea- 
son. Some species are always with us. Long after the 
leaves have fallen and the fields are bare and brown, 
when insect voices are hushed, and even some mammals 
are sleeping their winter sleep, the cheery Juncos flit 
about our doorstep, the White-throats twitter cozily from 
the evergreens, Tree Sparrows chatter gayly over their 
breakfast of seeds, and Crows are calling from the woods. 
Birds are the only living creatures to be seen; what a 
sense of companionship their presence gives; how deso- 
late the earth would seem without them! 
The ease with which we may become familiar with 
these feathered neighbors of ours robs ignorance of all 
excuses. Once aware of their existence, and we shall see 
a bird in every bush and find the heavens their pathway. 
One moment we may admire their beauty of plumage, 
the next marvel at the ease and grace with which they 
dash by us or circle high overhead. 
But birds will appeal to us most strongly through 
their songs. When your ears are attuned to the music 
of birds, your world will be transformed. Birds’ songs 
are the most eloquent of Nature’s voices: the gay carol of 
the Grosbeak in the morning, the dreamy, midday call 
of the Pewee, the vesper hymn of the Thrush, the clang- 
ing of Geese in the springtime, the farewell of the Blue- 
bird in the fall—how clearly each.one expresses the senti- 
ment of the hour or season ! 
Having learned # bird’s language, you experience an 
increased feeling of comradeship with it. You may even 
