THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS 



come until a week or ten days after the male. 

 The male Red-wing, for example, returns to the 

 marsh in which he and his mate lived the year 

 before and calls his kong-quer-ree many times 

 before she hears him and comes to choose a nest- 

 ing place. 



Then we will also see that while many birds 

 march on to more northern homes others break 

 ranks and make their homes with us. These the 

 ornithologist calls "Summer Residents," while 

 those that pass onward he calls "Transient 

 Visitants." 



By June i, the invading hosts have taken pos- 

 session of the country. Some have settled in the 

 north ; but from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores 

 of the Arctic Ocean, no place is without some 

 members of the great army. 



Where, in the winter, all was silent, we now 

 hear the sweet voices of many birds. How 

 peaceful they seem as they build their nests and 

 rear their young! But in truth they are valiant 

 fighters; for this bird army has come to protect 

 us from our insect enemies. All summer long 

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