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Bird- Lore 



dition in the matter of architecture. An old shoe, a mitten, a torn hat, a skull, 

 •or a neat house with piazza and overhanging eaves are all the same to it. With 

 other birds the case is different and the imitation fence-post or hollow limb 

 must be in place before the first Bluebird, Tree Swallow or Chickadee thinks 

 •of mating, while I firmly believe that the Woodpeckers and Screech Owls engage 

 their quarters the fall before and occupy them on winter nights. — M. O. W. 



Entangled in the Burdock 



The following verses, by one of America's best-known poets, were inspired by the 

 photograph of a Goldfinch which lost its life by becoming entangled in a burdock, 

 which appeared in Bird-Lore for December, 1906. 



How could'st thou, O my Mother, 

 To whom we all belong, 



Betray our little brother 



Who had the wings and song? 



For Nature's self betrayed him, 

 And did with food entice; 



And none there was to aid him 

 To slip the thorny vise. 



The golden wild Canary — 

 The child of light and air — 



Blithe-hearted, sank, unwary, 

 Upon the burdock's snare! 



And there he strove and fluttered 

 Through all the long, bright day; 



And many a wild cry uttered 

 Ere Life took flight away! 



At last (oh, piteous thing! — - 

 It is for this I weep), 



With head beneath his wing, 

 He tried to go to sleep! 



How could'st thou, Nature — Mother, 

 To whom we all belong— 



Betray our little brother 



Who had the wings and song? 



— Edith M. Thomas. 



.[AMERICAN GOLDFINCH ENTANGLED 



IN BURDOCK 



Photograph by B. S. Bowdish 



