4 OUR SOUTHERN BIRDS 



that they will not return to a nest which has been in 

 contact with a hand. 



Naturalists like John Burroughs are often said to 

 possess some mysterious secret of attracting birds, or at 

 least of dealing with them at close range. The secret is 

 simply the avoidance of sudden movements. By keeping 

 quiet you may induce such friendly birds as "Wrens, 

 Chippies, and Titmice to perch on your arms and head 

 and to eat from your hand. 



Experience is the only real teacher in this study. 

 Patience and practice render the identification of birds 

 easy. There is as much character in the voice and actions 

 of a bird as there is in those of most people ; and we 

 learn to recognize bird friends as readily as human ones, 

 as they become familiar. Their rudimentary language, 

 too, is easily learned; so that when one is accustomed 

 to the vocal range of a pair it is easy to tell whether they 

 are expressing alarm at the presence of an enemy, satis- 

 faction over the fledglings in the nest, or triumph over 

 the capture of food ; whether they are quarreling, making 

 love, or conducting an ordinary business conversation. 

 It should be kept in mind, however, that very careful 

 observation is necessary before deciding on the identity 

 of any bird not well and familiarly known to you. 



"When you come upon a new bird, therefore, try to 

 describe it about as follows : 



About what size ? Compare with some familiar type 

 as Crow, Robin, or Sparrow, or state length in inches. 



Describe bright colors or marks, if any. 



Shape and color of bill — a bird's most characteristic 

 feature. 



