200 The Bluebird 



of the United States, and some probably go as far south 

 as the West Indies. 



During mild winters a few remain in the Northern 

 States, and those who are fortunate enough to ramble 

 about the hedges and byways sometimes find them in 

 sheltered places. On pleasant days, too, the bluebirds 

 may sometimes be seen in the open fields among the 

 brown weeds, eagerly searching for the few seeds that 

 the wind shakes from the pods still standing above the 

 snow ; or, perchance, they may be found about the hay 

 stacks near the barns, where the cattle are fed in 

 pleasant weather. 



One January morning I saw a very unusual bird- 

 picture about one of these stacks. The ground was 

 covered with a thick blanket of snow, over which the 

 hay had been scattered. The loosened seeds were 

 tempting bits of food for the hungry wild birds, and as 

 the morning grew warmer a flock came from the thick 

 underbrush of the woods near by. The greater 

 number were snowflakes, but there were a few sparrows 

 and five bluebirds. On Nature's white background 

 the blue of the bluebirds, the gray of the sparrows, and 

 the brown and white of the snowflakes made indeed 

 a variety of color and contrast. 



The sweet disposition and gentle, lovable ways of the 

 bluebird are evident even in captivity. I once had 



