AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



187 



IsilBIll ClATS*'™ 



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Address communications for this department to 



Meg Merrythought, Box 772. Waterbury, Ct. 



My Dear Young Folks: 



I know that you have been having a good time since I wrote last. 

 Who could help being glad as he watches the changes creeping over 

 the brown earth; the bright flowers peeping from every nook; the won- 

 derful cloaks of white, pink, red, and soft green which are thrown 

 around the trees which have been bare so long. And as a crowning 

 joy to this delightful season, a host of gay birds warbling their songs 

 of love, have appeared during the last month. 



We have been greatly interested in the affairs of a family who have 

 moved into a tenement next to us (they are true blue.) Ere they had 

 completed their house-furnishing a pair of thievish English Sparrows 

 who had rented a cottage near by, decided that the sticks selected by 

 Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird were just what they would like, so went in and 

 helped themselves when the pair were out marketing. Our little friends 

 in blue would not stand that. No, indeed. As soon as Mr. and Mrs. 

 English had their backs turned they marched boldly in and carried the 

 sticks home again. For a week the sticks were carried back and forth 

 from nest to nest, in this manner, till at last the perseverence of the 

 Bluebirds won the day, and they were left in peaceful possession of 

 their own house, while Mr. English was content to sit on his own 

 veranda and saucily chirp, "I don't want to play in your yard." Mr. 

 Blue did very little of the work in fitting up the new home — perhaps he 

 could not do it to suit his wife — but kept close by her, singing a soft, 

 sweet accompaniment as she worked. As I write he is busy carrying 

 delicious morsels to the little mother who is patiently guarding four 

 blue eggs. 



We have a long list of questions to puzzle you this month and if you 

 can answer them all you are certainly entitled to a place on our Roll of 

 Honor. Who will be the first to send me answers to them all? 



Cordially your friend, Meg Merrythought. 



The answer to the numerical enigma of last month is '\Song 

 Sparrow." 



