leeson] SIMPLE DEVICES FOR BIRD ATTRACTION 163 



appreciate the extent to which this warbler can open up his whole 

 bird soul to an outpouring of gratitude and love. This song, which 

 John Burroughs describes as "clear, ringing copious, rivalling the 

 gold finch's in vivacity, and the linnet's in melody," is heard often- 

 est during the mating season and at the hour of twilight, though it 

 has been heard repeatedly in the morning, at noonday, and in the 

 afternoon. 



Ernest S. Thompson, in writing of this song, says, "The oven- 

 bird, at certain seasons of the year, rises into the air, far above the 

 tops of the forest trees, and as he floats on quivering wing, pours 

 forth a loud, sweet, lark-like song- — a song full of variety and ten- 

 derness, and so prolonged and powerful that one wonders indeed 

 if so small a throat can really be the source of that volume of sweet 

 sound." 



Shall not we human beings, who class ourselves as of a higher 

 order of beings than birds, take to heart the lessons taught by these 

 songs' May we not, too, in like manner, open our souls to receive 

 the gift of wisdom from the Giver Above ? And then may we not 

 go on our way to our tasks with the confidence that the guidance 

 we are seeking will be given? Then, when the day is waning, and 

 twilight begins to fall, like the modest golden-crowned woodland 

 warbler, we, too, may lift up our hearts and voices in rapturous 

 praise and thanksgiving, losing ourselves in the great joy of a reali- 

 zation of the Father's blessings. 



Simple Devices for Bird Attraction 



C. C. Leeson 

 State Normal, Maryville, Mo. 



Many people are deterred from making efforts toward bird 

 attraction by the excessive cost of the ready-made devices or for 

 lack of time and skill for carrying out the rather complicated direc- 

 tions usually given for making bird houses. Here are some simple 

 devices that a child can make with a hammer, saw, and hatchet, 

 and yet which are adequate and attractive. 



Split-log nest ; -split four slabs off a moderate sized stick of wood, 

 leaving a square core, saw one end of this core off and nail the slabs 

 back on to it as a bottom, saw a notch in the top of the front slab 

 for bird opening, (one inch for wrens, one and three-quarters for 



