THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS 



will be additions to the ranks of the Song Spar- 

 rows and Bluebirds that have passed the winter. 

 These same birds will remain until November 

 or even early December. 



When the frost leaves the ground so that the 

 Woodcock may probe for his favorite fare of 

 earthworms, this great-eyed Snipe of the woods 

 will appear; and he may stay with us until frost 

 seals his hunting ground. 



Almost as soon as the ponds, lakes, and rivers 

 open, Ducks and Geese return, and, in the fall, 

 many remain until they are actually "frozen 

 out" by the ice which forces them to go further 

 south. 



Now none of the birds I have mentioned makes 

 very long journeys. Robins, Crackles, Red- 

 wings and Woodcocks do not leave the United 

 States, and the greater number of Ducks winter 

 within our boundaries. In fact, all these birds 

 may be found as far north as Virginia. There- 

 fore, they are in the first rank of the vast army 

 of birds which begins its northward march in the 

 early spring. They may not start any sooner 

 50 



