made its appearance near their homes 

 without any apparent evil intent, that I 

 could discover. I would sometimes see 

 as many as five varieties of birds after 

 one jay; they were always victors, too. 

 The robin, I always observed, could de- 

 fend himself against a jay, never seemed 

 afraid to do so, and indeed seemed to 

 be the aggressor. The blue jay maybe 

 a sly bird, a "robber and a thief," 

 though I never detected those traits to 

 any especial extent; but he is hand- 

 some and brightens the winter land- 

 scape. To be sure, I found that he was 

 fond of green peas and corn and did 

 not hesitate in helping himself, also 

 sampling the bright Duchess apples. 

 The robin is equally fond of all small 

 fruits, and greedy as well. 



The bluebirds came regularly in the 

 early spring for years, then ceased ap- 

 parently when the sparrows made their 

 appearance. The sparrows made many 

 attempts to usurp the little house pro- 

 vided especially for the bluebird, but 

 were not allowed to do so and never 

 gained a footing on the premises; still 

 the little spring harbinger ever after 

 kept aloof from us. In the winter sea- 

 son the English sparrow came occasion- 



ally to share the bluejays' tidbits, but 

 was promptly repulsed, although other 

 birds came freely. The dainty little 

 snowbird, several kinds of woodpeck- 

 ers, now and then a chickadee, and 

 some other winter birds came also. I 

 had ways of enticing the birds to come 

 near where I could watch their habits 

 and peculiarities. All birds fear cats. 

 There are cats and cats — some never 

 molest birds or little chickens, but, as a 

 rule, they seem to be their natural en- 

 emies. Little boys, I am sorry to say, 

 cause great destruction of birds, often 

 thoughtlessly, by trying their marks- 

 manship. I would banish every "sling 

 shot!" It is even worse than taking 

 eggs, for they are generally replaced; 

 but when the mother-bird is taken a 

 little brood is left helpless to suffer and 

 die. Thoughtful kindness towards little 

 birds should be encouraged among 

 children. I would have one day each 

 year devoted to the subject in all pub- 

 lic schools. It would bring birds under 

 the observation of many who otherwise 

 would pass them by unnoticed, and 

 when one takes an interest in anything, 

 be it flowers or birds, he or she is less 

 likely to cause their destruction. 



MARCH AND MAY. 



" The brown, brown woods of March 



Are the green, green woods of May, 

 And they lift their arms with a freer swing 



And shake out their pennons gay. 

 And the brown, dead world of March 



Is the living world of to-day; 

 Life throbs and flushes and flashes out 



In the color and fragrance of May." 



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