INTRODUCTION 5 



Marks — wing bars, eye ring, line through or over 

 eye, white feathers in tail, etc. 



Notes and song — short or continuous ; loud or low, 

 etc. 



Is it on the ground or in trees ? in thicket, grass, or 

 in the open? 



Does it walk or hop ? 



What is it eating? 



Is it alone, or in flocks, or with birds of other species ? 

 About how many in a flock or group ? 



Where is it — in swamp, pasture, or woods, in the 

 air, or by running water ? 



All notes should be dated. Having identified the 

 bird, the next thing is to study its habits and peculiari- 

 ties. A note book and pencil should be carried in the 

 pocket for the immediate fixing of one's impressions. 

 Immediate, because our memories are treacherous, and 

 fifteen minutes' delay may give rise to errors in notes or 

 markings, or confusion of two or more species seen at 

 the same time. Afterward these notes may be entered 

 in the blank pages of this book. 



A bare list of the birds found in your neighborhood, 

 with dates, is well worth making. It is most interesting 

 to make a special study of one bird at a time, filling the 

 pages with little family histories. In March or April, 

 watch the actions of some mated pair, and find out all 

 you can about their home life. Some leading questions 

 in this line of study might be : 



Where was the nest built? When begun? When 

 completed ? Of what is it made ? 



Did the male bird or the female build it, or both ? 



