OUR HOME BIRDS. 
23 
tell you about the differeut kinds of birds, so that 
you may know something of their habits when you 
hear them singing again next summer?” 
The little Kyles all agreed that this would be very 
nice, and Edith, who was almost too shy to speak at 
all, whispered eagerly, “ Please tells us about ‘ Cock 
Robin/ ” 
“ ‘ Robin Redbreast ’ was the sweetest,” pleaded 
Clara, “for he covered the poor little children up 
with leaves. Won’t you tell us about him, Miss 
Harson ?” 
Malcolm laughed at his little sisters’ ideas of 
ornithology — their governess had explained to them 
that this is the name given to the study of birds, as 
zoology is to that of animals, and mineralogy to that 
of minerals — and when asked for his feathered fa- 
vorite he proudly mentioned the eagle, the bird of 
America, as he is called. 
“ There are very many nice stories about eagles,” 
said he. 
“Suppose that we begin with the little ones,” 
suggested Miss Harson — “the dear little, familiar^ 
birds that come to us first, and make their nests in 
our own trees here ?” 
“And live in little houses,” said Clara, delight- 
edly — “the pretty little martin-houses that papa 
had made on purpose for them.” 
