CHAPTER III. 

 How TO KNOW THE BIRDS. 



As the most attractive thing about a bird is 

 its song, our first care must be to learn to listen 

 to the various beautiful notes of all the different 

 birds that we may hear in any country place or 

 open city spot. 



To learn to really know bird-songs, is to hear 

 them without effort and by habit, wherever we 

 may be and whatever we are doing. A bird- 

 lover will hear a score of different songs while 

 he talks with a friend, or reads a book ; for it 

 is one of the delights of one who has come into 

 sympathetic touch with bird-life that he can 

 respond to every sweet song without having his 

 attention diverted from his usual tasks. The 

 habit of closed ears and heart to this ministry of 

 bird-song is characteristic of most people. Some 

 of us have sat in a room in June, and have been 



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