FEATHERED ARTISTS 13 



of the world, as on the plains of Texas, one-fourth 

 of the human beings live in dug-outs. Robins build 

 their homes of mud and straw; and many farmers 

 build houses of mud and moss. There are birds 

 who prefer gay colours in their homes, and many 

 kinds of ornaments ; the American Indian was ex- 

 tremely fond of such colours, and to-day we find 

 thousands of men who delight in rich colours. 



That birds are fond of music, no one doubts; the 

 song of the mocking-bird, the whistle of the gold- 

 finch, the call of the red-bird, the gentle cooing of 

 the dove, the noisy chattering of the sparrow, the 

 sad cry of the whippoorwill, the scream of the hawk, 

 the hoot of the owl, the reed-like notes of the black- 

 bird, the violin roll of the canary — aU are convinc- 

 ing, and place them in the ranks of true lovers of 

 the esthetic. 



And none can doubt that the physical appear- 

 ance of birds entitles them to be ranked high in the 

 artistic world. Observe the matchless grace of the 

 swan, the heron, and the sand-hiU crane; the ex- 

 quisite plumes of the ostrich and the bird of para- 

 dise ; the wonderful colour of the lory and the sun- 

 bird; the marvellous coats, crests, and lappets of the 

 himaming-bird, red-bird, blue-jay, parrot, and finch; 

 or the unusual song of the nightingale — ^we must 



