96 BIRDS OF THE WEST 



BLUEBIRD. 



When the bluebird comes, we know that South Dakota's state 

 flower, the anemone, will soon push its buds into the sunlight 

 for the wind's caresses. Could we have chosen a better emblem than 

 this royal wind-flower? And when we see tiny specks of blue 

 floating upon the winds of March as though the sun in bursting 

 through the clouds had broken bits of blue heaven and sent them 

 floating down to us in song, we feel that there could be no better 

 sign of the awakened life of another year. That these loving little 

 gentle folks should brave the blasts of early springtime is accounted 

 for only on the theory that 



"The bravest are the tenderest 

 The loving are the daring." 



The bluebird's motto, it seems to me, is "live and let live." 

 Even the English sparrow, the inquisitor of bird life, is treated 

 with respect, and rather than go to law (in bird-land "might 

 makes right") about the possession of a bird-house, a tree hole 

 or the abandoned home of a woodpecker, the bluebird generally 

 moves on and the sparrow often doesn't move in. (Little dog 

 in the manger.) 



However, if the bluebird has moved in, he can lay aside his 

 heavenly disposition for a while and show you something of the 

 courageous heart that braved the storm. Then Mr. Sparrow moves 

 on. 



It is often asked if the same bird returns year after year 

 to the same spot. No doubt many varieties do so and the blue- 

 bird is one of them. Not only does he return but when he starts 

 north he leaves his wife to follow him later. As I am writing 

 the little fellow who lives at 1007 South Main avenue in the little 

 house to which I have given him a perennial lease, in considera- 

 tion of work in my garden, has arrived but his wife has not yet 

 joined him. Just now he and I are trying to drive out some ten- 

 ants who have not paid their rent. When the little nest of grass 

 is finished, four pale-blue eggs will be laid which will open upon 

 four tiny almost black little babies that will keep papa and mamma 

 very busy until they too have learned to find worms and to catch 

 insects. 



