224 SOME COMMON LAND-BIRDS. 



and with joyful cries flew to the top of the highest maple. 

 His little mate did not attempt to follow him, but a gentle 

 hand drew her out a,nd made her feel the breeze beneath her 

 wings, when she joined her mate, and neither ever came back 

 to thank us for six weeks' entertainment. 



This simple story contains nothing that any child might not 

 observe ; but it shows that something may be learned even 

 from caged -birds, and it happens to illustrate three disputed 

 points in science : whether wild birds sleep with their heads 

 beneath their wings, whether they are naturally right-handed, 

 and the color change without a moult. However, unless some 

 accident, like that to our pine grosbeak, disables a bird, no wild 

 bird should ever be kept in captivity unless it has perfect 

 freedom, like a tame crow or blackbird. 



