The Audubon Societies 177 



Reader II); "The Cat and the Birds" (Brooks' Reader II); "The Tongue-cut Sparrow" 

 (Japanese Fairy Tales I, by Teresa Williston). Little girls and boys dress in kimonos 

 for the latter and many "birds" are along the roads. 



Read "Why the Woodpecker's Head is Red," from "Book of Nature Myths" by 

 Florence Holbrook. Let children rewrite it. Have the best story read on "Bird Day." 



Make at least six beautiful reading-charts about birds with bird-pictures pasted on 

 them. 



If you have the "Audubon Bird Charts" let a child name the birds on them. 



These birds make fine outlines to hektograph for the children to color. 



I USED TO KILL BIRDS 



By Henry W. Longfellow 



I used to kill birds in my boyhood, 



Bluebirds and robins and wrens, 

 I hunted them up in the mountains, 



I hunted them down in the glens; 

 I never thought it was sinful — 



I did it only for fun, 

 And I had rare sport in the forest, 



With the poor little birds and my gun. 



But one beautiful day in the springtime, 



I spied a brown bird in a tree, 

 Merrily swinging and chirping, 



As happy as bird could be; 

 And raising my gun in a twinkling, 



I fired, and my aim was too true, 

 For a moment the little thing fluttered. 



Then off to the bushes it flew. 



I followed it quickly and softly. 



And there to my sorrow I found. 

 Right close to its nest of young ones. 



The little bird dead on the ground ! 

 Poor birdies! For food they were calling; 



But now they could never be fed. 

 For the kind mother-bird who had loved them. 



Was lying there bleeding and dead. 



I picked up the bird in my anguish, 



I stroked the wee motherly thing. 

 That could never more feed its dear young ones, 



Nor dart through the air on swift wing. 

 And I made a firm vow in that moment. 



When my heart with such sorrow was stirred, 

 That never again in my lifetime, 



Would I shoot a poor innocent bird ! 



[Other suggestions for Bird and Arbor Day exercises may be found in preceding years 

 of Bird-Lore, in the issues of March- April. It is most desirable that great emphasis be 

 placed this spring upon practical plans for increasing and conserving food- and fuel- 



