BIRD PARADISE ys 



animated by the common spirit of getting some- 

 where just as soon as possible. Why they should 

 start on their Southern journey so early in the 

 season is a secret which they keep to themselves. 

 Food is abundant and the weather pleasant, still 

 at such a time every season they get upon the 

 wing for their extensive travels. I have a notion 

 that they take their time in the passage, being 

 several days reaching their first stopping place in 

 Pennsylvania. Of course they have no idea of 

 what is in store for them as they gather the fruits 

 of their extensive trip. Living on the choicest 

 viands of the land they soon become candidates 

 for the epicure's table. I like the cheery way 

 with which the bobolinks say their " good-bye." 

 Vacation with the birds means a long season of 

 rollicking life with hardly a flaw in the entire 

 round of festivities. 



Several of the robins' nests in my lawn trees now 

 shelter the young birds. I notice that with the 

 advent of the little fellows the care and concern 

 of the old birds is greatly increased. It is aston- 

 ishing what an amount of food a nest of young 

 birds will consume in one day. Their capacity 

 for food seems to be unlimited. They feast all 

 day long, and then wear the air of hungry crea- 



