INTRODUCTION 
In the following pages, the aim has 
been to give the children a brief but work¬ 
ing knowledge of the appearance of indi¬ 
vidual birds, the localities which these 
birds are most likely to frequent, their 
choice of home sites, and the language 
which they use. 
With the help of parents and teachers, 
we would make the children so well ac¬ 
quainted with individual species that an 
injured bird will be to them an injured 
friend. 
Can not the boy be made to understand 
the great service which the birds render 
not only to beauty and to music but to 
the growing crops! We have tried to en¬ 
able him to judge Robin, not entirely by 
what the bird does in June, but by what 
lie does during the entire year. Even the 
despised but greatly misunderstood 
Hawks and Owls should not be judged en¬ 
tirely by their rare visits to the farm yard. 
A few suggestions may be helpful for 
bird study. In Washington, early in 
March, boxes may be made for tree swal¬ 
lows and blue birds. Farther south this 
work should be done earlier. 
Love songs and nest building will con¬ 
tinue from March until August. 
