WHERE TO FIND BIRDS 51 



rows can be learned right around the house, and it 

 will be a good feat to accomplish as an early move 

 in the game of birds. 



If there are evergreens in the yard, like as not a 

 few pairs of the grackle or crow blackbird may take 

 up residence in them to build their nests. The bril- 

 liant Baltimore oriole hangs its pouch-shaped nest 

 from the tips of the elm-branches in many a yard or 

 along the street. Frequently we may hear snatches 

 of caroled song, and it will take some peering up- 

 wards among the foliage of the shade-trees to see 

 the singer, the vireo, a light-breasted bird, greenish- 

 olive above. It may be any one of three kinds: the 

 commonest is the red-eyed vireo, slightly the largest, 

 with very white breast, large bill, and a pronounced 

 white stripe over the eye; the warbling vireo, of 

 rather duller hues and a breast not so white; or the 

 yellow-throated vireo, with a conspicuous yellow 

 throat. 



The little brown house wren may be a neighbor, 

 nesting in some hole or other, or old tin can nailed 

 up. It is a real musician, almost constantly pouring 

 out a medley of bubbling song. The little humming- 

 bird visits the flowers, and very likely has its tiny, 

 downy nest saddled on some branch over the garden. 

 Probably bluebirds live in the orchard, and one is 

 fortunate if the lovely creatures consent to occupy 

 the bird-house. More would do so, were it not for 

 the English sparrow which drives them out. The 

 same is true of the tree swallows and purple martins, 



