THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



BIRDS 



The creatures which are most famih'ar and most interesting to 

 observers in this country are undoubtedly the Birds. This is, of 

 course, because they are as a rule harmless, and, being allowed 

 to live pretty much as they please, have become very numerous, 

 and frequent our woods, fields, and even our gardens, with little 

 or no fear of us. Much, indeed, of the delight of a country life is 

 due to the birds. Their constant Sittings about, their chirping and 

 chattering in hedgerow and thicket, and the wonderful power of 

 song with which many of them are gifted would be sadly missed 

 were we to lose them. When spring is drawing near, many people 

 in the country listen eagerly for the songs of the birds, and some 

 know the different species by their voices, and could almost tell 

 the time of year without a calendar, simply by the birds they hear 

 singing and the manner in which they sing. 



The habits of birds make a very interesting study. If you look 

 out of your window almost any morning of the year you are sure 

 to see several different species taking their breakfast on the lawn. 

 If you care you can, by kindness, make friends with them, and you 

 will find that a knowledge of their ways and the pleasure of their 

 company will more than repay you for your trouble and the crumbs 

 you may throw to them. They quickly get to know you, and 

 after the first shyness wears off will come to your call. In winter 

 especially, when the ground is frozen or covered with snow, some 

 of them, and especially the robins, become quite fearless, will alight 

 on your window-sill and pick crumbs from your hand, and even 

 venture into your room. 



It has been observed that birds are very faithful to one another. 

 In the early spring, when they are pairing, you may often see two 

 cock birds, which are both courting the same hen, fighting a very 

 fierce duel, just as champions used to do in olden times. The 

 object of their affections watches the fight from a tree hard by, 

 and invariably flies off with the victor. But this happens chiefly 

 among the young birds, for it is found that in many cases, when 



