INTRODUCTION. 



many, many gentle hearts who do love" their 

 birds aye, and hold converse with them too. 



I have known li f tie pets fly all in a flutter to meet 

 and greet me, when really I thought they would 

 have quite forgotten that they had ever known me ; 

 and only let any one nurse a wounded bird, and see 

 if it forgets the benefit received. 



Besides, they are very clever. I am sure if as 

 many people lived sociably with birds as with dogs 

 and cats, we should have soon a thousand proofs of 

 their sagacious ways. Speaking for myself, I know 

 quite well by their tones what my birds are want- 

 ing sometimes it may be only a kindly recognition 

 of a passing friend but a few days ago when two 

 were fighting and we took no notice, there was lit- 

 tle doubt what the conquered wanted she called us 

 to her assistance as plainly as if she had spoken. 



The editor desires to acknowledge her indebted- 

 ness to the following named works from which this 

 book has mostly been compiled the quotations are, 

 as near as possible, in the exact words of the origi- 

 nals: "Beckstein's Cage Birds," "Kidd on Avia- 

 ries," "Adams's Favorite Song Birds," "Maling'a 

 Song Birds," "Beeton's Book of Home Pets," and 

 others. 



