AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



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confidence endeared them to us. Another early formed acquaintance 

 was the dearly loved Bluebird. On top of a tall grape arbor in our 

 garden, we fastened a medium size paint keg, after making a hole in 

 one end of suitable dimensions to admit of their going freely in and 

 out. It was here that I saw my first Bluebirds, and they nested in the 

 keg foi several years, raising as a rule, two broods each season. I 

 delighted to watch them carrying nesting material and to listen to their 

 sweet warbling. As I became more accustomed to the birds around 

 the house, and commenced to take little walks and trips to the adjacent 

 woods and fields, I became acquainted — one or two at a time — with 

 other birds until then unknown to me. In this class may be mention- 

 ed the Killdeer Plover. They were always shy and kept at a good 

 distance, but I well remember how swiftly they ran across the plough- 



Photo by R. H. Bebee. 

 YOUNG BLUEBIRD. 

 [Showing the spotted breast characteristic to young birds of this family. 



