The Audubon Societies - 185, 



and Owls of the United States," by Dr. A. K. Fisher, United States Department of 

 Agriculture, Bulletin No. 3, Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy, 1893. — A. H. W.]] 



An Acknowledgment 



[Early in the spring, it was my pleasant task to send one of the traveling bird-boxes; 

 of the Rhode Island Audubon Society to the Slater Avenue School in Providence. Soon 

 after, a small and radiant messenger brought me a large envelope, containing personal 

 letters from each pupil in grades 3 and 4 B. These letters were written, first to express 

 thanks for the use of the box, and then to relate individual experiences in feeding and. 

 observing birds during the winter. It would be a pleasure to print the entire list, if 

 space would permit. The following extracts will show the spirit in which bird-study 

 is undertaken by these children, whose ages are between 8 and 10 years.^A. H. W.]' 



. . . Monday, I put crumbs out for the birds. A little Sparrow came and 

 stood by it. He seemed a little frightened at first, but a little later came 

 and took a crumb. I put out some more this morning, but the wind blew 

 them away. I am going to put some out every day now. . . . — -Harriette, 

 Sumner (aged 8) . 



... I am very much interested in birds. I love to feed the birds too. We 

 have the bird-box on the shelf in front to the room, so we can see it whenever- 

 we come into the schoolroom. For Christmas I wanted a bird book, but I' 

 did not get it. Every Christmas we put out our Christmas tree. After it is 

 put outdoors, I make the birds a Christmas too. I get crumbs and straw 

 and things they like. . . . — Margery Armington (aged 9). 



. . . Sometimes when I am playing in the woods, I see lots of birds. One 

 morning, when I got out of bed, I went to the window and saw six Blue Jays 

 in the cherry tree in the next yard. I threw some bread crumbs out before 

 breakfast, and when I came out to go to school they were all gone. . . . — 

 Allen Williams (aged 8) . 



. . . I have seen the Blue Jay, the Sparrows, the Brown[Black?] and White- 

 Creeper, Chickadee and Woodpecker. I have not seen the Nuthatch this win- 

 ter, but I am looking for it. I like birds very much and have fed them. I 

 gave them some bread crumbs and water. I feed the Sparrows because not 

 any other kinds have come to me yet. . . . — Marjorie Bedell (aged 9). 



... I have seen a lot of Sparrows on our barberry bushes. TJiey like bar- 

 berries to eat. Once a Sparrow started to build a nest over my window. . . . 

 — William B. Jacobs (aged 9). 



. . . Every morning I put out crumbs for the birds. They come every 

 morning to get the crumbs to eat. I have seen the Chickadee, Nuthatch, , 

 Woodpecker and the Blue Jay. I like birds very much. We have a little 

 kitty, and every morning he goes to the window to get the Sparrows. . . ,. 

 — Shirley S. Elsbree (aged 8). 



