AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



Address communications for this department to 



Meg Merrythought, box 772, Waterbury, Ct. 



My Dear Young Folks: 



As I sat by the window one of the bright days in February, there 

 flew down half a score of dear little birds with backs of blue and breasts 

 of brick red, and softly twittering, alighted on a tree close by. They 

 staid about all the morning, and I think they wished me to send you 

 their greetings and tell you that spring is surely coming. 



The Bluebirds are dear friends of mine. Our hammock was swung 

 when I was a child, from the corner of the house to a spruce tree; a lit- 

 tle higher up on the tree trunk was fastened a box with a round hole in 

 it, where a pair of Bluebirds made their summer homes for many years 

 without seeming to resent the interest shown by several little lads and 

 lassies in the training of the young birds. Indeed, they occasionally 

 swung on the rope while the hammock was occupied by two or some- 

 times three children, and seemed to know that naught but good will was 

 felt toward them. Then, too, there was Sir Robin Redbreast, who 

 would come 'daily to the window sill for his breakfast of crumbs, and if 

 the window was closed, would tap the pane of glass with his bill to in- 

 form us that he was quite ready for his regular rations. 



One of our young folks, Charles H. Rogers, of New York City, has 

 sent a correct account of the Junco. If Roxana Hevy has access to a 

 good "library, she will find more satisfactory answers to her long list of 

 questions, in any good book on birds, than my space would permit me 

 to give. Do not expect that your letters can be answered in the next 

 month's magazine, for oftentimes it is already in press when your let- 

 ters reach me. 



Your friend, 



Meg Merrythought. 



