l6o SIDE THOUGHTS ABOUT BIRDS. 



Creeper mount the tree-trunks, each by his chosen path of 

 straight line or spiral, one gleaning his daily ration from the 

 bark clefts and another sounding for fatter grubs that hide 

 beneath it, seldom using his strong chisel in vain. 



Below, in the grass, the Sparrows are ever busy, and the 

 topmost twig of the tree overhead is searched faithfully, over 

 and over again, by the army of Warblers and Flycatchers, 

 while high over all swing Hawk and Vulture — police and 

 sanitary of the winged commonwealth. 



With the early days of each returning spring there is no 

 sound more welcome than the notes of Bluebird and Song- 

 Sparrow. Silent they come overnight and we waken to 

 their sudden morning presence. Far at sea we meet the 

 wide-winged lonely voiced wanderers that know no country 

 other than the wind-swept, tossing water. Those whom 

 chance and winter find in distant southern islands remember 

 well the look of home-suggesting Catbird, Thrush and 

 Warbler — fellow exiles met in cane field, mangrove swamps 

 and guava tangle — familiar friends all, but strangely set 

 amid the air-plants and rank growths of the tropics. 



Taken all in all, there is no aspect of bird-life but has its 

 charm, if eyes and ears will open to it, and once entered it 

 draws surely on to the wish to know better our friends of 

 the air. Birds are close about us always, summer and 

 winter alike, and no long travels are needed to find them 

 and make their acquaintance. Whoever loves field and 

 wood finds in them a new motive and a fresh pleasure for 

 his excursions. 



Each new set of acquaintances we can make among our 

 finned, furred and feathered co-tenants of the world, gives 

 a deeper hold on the Life that runs common to all alike and 

 opens wider the doorway to its pleasures. 



