6 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



garden, at once a cheerful, melodious 

 singer, a thrifty provider, and a Board 

 of Health in the care of its dwelling. 

 Nothing that is dirty is allowed to 

 remain about its snug quarters, and 

 by a simple and comprehensive plan 

 its local drainage is made perfect. 



Go from the garden down through 

 the lane to the meadow. What a 

 burst of bird music greets you, solo, 

 quartet, and chorus, led by the viva- 

 cious accentor, the golden-crowned 

 thrush, with his crescendo of "Teacher 

 — teacher — teacher ! " This is the 

 time and season to study the birds, 

 while their plumage is fresh and typi- 

 cal, and they never sing so freely as in 

 the first notes of their love song. The 

 most puzzling part of the task is their 

 modifications of plumage ; for not only 

 in many species are males and females 

 totally different, but the male also 



