THE BIRD STUDY BOOK 



stride is made toward the identification of the Cliff 

 or Tree Swallow when one swings into view. The 

 flight of the Flicker, the Goldfinch, the Nighthawk, 

 and the Sparrow Hawk, is so characteristic in each 

 case that I have often been able to name the bird 

 for a student upon being told its approximate size 

 and the character of its flight. Who can see a Wild 

 Duck swimming, or a Gull flying, without at once 

 referring it to the group of birds to which it belongs? 

 Thus the first step is taken toward learning the 

 names of the species, and the grouping of them into 

 families. 



Artificial Cover in Hiding. — When studying the 

 larger or the shyer species it is sometimes well to 

 hide one's self from view with whatever articles are 

 at hand that resemble the natural surroundings. This 

 may be done by covering with hay if in a field, or by 

 holding some leafy branches about you if in the woods. 



On a lonely island in Pamlico Sound I once got 

 some fishermen to cover me with sand and sea-shells, 

 and in that way managed to get a close view of 

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