CHAPTER II 

 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



Bluebird — ^Robin — ^Wood Thrush — ^Veert 



The Bluebird 



Length — 7 inches. About an inch longer than the English 



sparrow. 

 Male — ^Upper parts, wings, and tail bright blue, with rusty 



wash in autumn. Throat, breast, and sides cinnamon- 

 red. Underneath white. 

 Female — Has duller blue feathers, washed with gray, and a 



paler breast than male. 

 Range — ^North America, from Nova Scotia and Manitoba 



to Gulf of Mexico. Southward in winter from Middle 



states to Bermuda and West Indies. 

 Migrations — March. November. Summer resident. A 



few sometimes remain throughout the winter. 



{See cover of book.) 



Is there any sign of spring quite so welcome as the glint 

 of the first bluebird unless it is his softly whistled song? 

 No wonder the bird has become the symbol for happiness. 

 Before the farmer begins to plough the wet earth, often 

 while the snow is still on the ground, this hardy little min- 

 strel is making himself very much at home in our orchards 



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