HINTS TO AUDUBON WORKERS 



FIFTY COMMON BIRDS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM, 



WHEN you begin to study the birds 

 in the fields and woods, you should 

 make yourself as much a part of the 

 scenery as possible, so that they will not 

 be frightened by something striking and 

 unusual. 



The majority of birds are not afraid of 

 man as a figure, but as an active, aggres- 

 sive object. The observance of a few sim- 

 ple rules will help you to become incon- 

 spicuous. 



First — Avoid very light colored clothing. 



Second — Walk slowly and noiselessly. 



Third — Avoid all sudden, jerky move- 

 ments. 



Fourth — Avoid all talking, or speak only 

 in an undertone. 



Fifth — If the bird is singing, and stops 

 on your approach, stand still for a few 

 moments and encourage him by answering 

 his call. If he gets interested, you can 

 often creep up within opera glass distance 

 without his objecting. 



Sixth — Make a practice of stopping 

 often, and standing perfectly still. In that 

 way you will hear voices that would be 

 drowned by your movement; and the birds 

 will come to the spot without noticing you, 

 when they would fly away in advance if 

 they were to see and hear you walking 

 toward them. 



The best way of all is to select a favor- 

 able place, and sit there quietly for several 

 hours, to see what will come. Then you 

 get at the lionic life of the birds, not mere- 

 ly seeing them when they are on their 



[Owing to an oversight the complete title of Miss Merri. 

 am's scries of bird sketches was not given in the June Audu- 

 bon, but ap|)cars this month. Several of our common birds, 

 sketches of which have alre.idy appeared in the Magazine, 

 will be omitted from Miss Mcrriam's scries. — Editor AuDt;uoN 

 Magazine.] 



♦Copyright, 1807, by Florence A. Merriam. 



guard. For careful observation in general, 

 three rules may be given. 



First — In clear weather be sure to get 

 between the sun and your bird. In the 

 wrong light a scarlet tanager or an indigo 

 bird will look as black as a crow. 



Second — Gaze. Let your eyes rest on 

 the trees before j^ou, and if there is any 

 movement, you will soon discover your bird. 



Third — Beware of the besetting sin of 

 observers. Never jump at conclusions. 

 Prove all your conjectures. 



If you take these simple precautions, 

 the success of your work will be greatly 

 increased. 



PHCEBE. 



If you class the robin, the bluebird, and 

 blackbird together, on account of their strik- 

 ing colors, and distinguish the sparrows by 

 their striped backs, the common flycatchers 

 will readily stand out as unstriped, dull, 

 dark, grayish birds, that have light breasts. 

 Knowing that their vocal organs are unde- 

 veloped, you are not surprised by the abrupt 

 call of the phoebe. Although it resembles 

 a jerking repetition oi phce-be' , phce-be' , it is 

 not exactly what the word would indicate. 

 The first part of the call is comparatively 

 clear, but the second is a longer rasping 

 note, making the whole more like phce-ree', 

 pha^-rcc', with a heavily trilled r. 



When the birds first begin coming north 

 you will hear this, and you will soon re- 

 cognize it from barns and sheds, or on 

 lawns, in open fields, and along the sides of 

 streams. When you have traced the call 

 to its source — and it is an excellent habit 

 to see every bird whose notes attract your 

 attention — the dull slate-colored coat and 

 the whitish vest, with its washing of pale 

 yellow, is soon forgotten in watching the 

 curious habits of the little fellow. 



