90 
BY THE WAYSIDE. 
on the birds of the preceding month. This 
competition is open to teachers aiid children. 
No papers have been received on February 
birds. 
A copy of Chapman’s Color Key is given to 
Leo Egelberg, 703 State St., La Crosse, as a 
prize for winning the honor badge twice. 
Secretary’s Letter. 
Dear Children: I have just been listening 
to a story which relates that in certain parts 
of South America a large species of crane is 
domesticated and serves the purpose of a watch¬ 
dog,—indeed more than that, for it not only 
drives from its master’s premises two and four 
footed intruders, but looks after the poultry 
yard, keeping ducks and chickens within 
bounds, and even herds the sheep! These 
cranes become deeply attached to the members 
of the family with which they live, and are 
justly regarded as useful and valuable friends. 
March and April are the very best months 
to study birds because there is no foliage to 
hide them. Besides, there are many interesting 
migrants that pause for a few days on their 
journey northward; so get out your note-books, 
sharpen your pencils, and open your eyes! 
Elizabeth G. Peckham. 
Wisconsin Prize Letter. 
THE PINE GROSBEAK. 
The pine grosbeak is easily identified by its 
bright plumage. It is one of our irregular 
winter visitors. This year several flocks were 
seen in this locality. They were the first seen 
in several years. Generally there are about 
five female and young birds to every 
adult bird. Their winter song is a pure whis¬ 
tle. It has a wavy flight like the gold finch. 
On December 5th, 1903, we saw a flock of 
about twenty female and young birds. They 
were in a grove of spruce and cedar trees in the 
golf grounds. It was late in the 
evening, and the birds were going to sleep, 
when we disturbed them. 
On New Year’s day we saw a single pine 
grosbeak in the same grove. He was a young 1 
male bird. The red on the rump and crown was 
very bright. We were attracted by his whistle. 
He perched upon the top of a cedar tree about * 1 
twelve feet high. There he began to sing. We l: 
heard him several times. Later when we went j 
to look at him, he was in the lower branches 
of the same tree. We approached within two! 
feet of him, but he was not at all disturbed." 
Several other flocks of these birds were seen J 
during the three winter months. 
Age 15. William Schneider. 
Illinois Prize Letter. 
THE BLUE JAY. 
One day when I was at my grandpapa’s I r 
saw a blue jay coming from a pine tree. I * 
watched him; he flew over to the pasture where I: 
the nuts are. Every year when I go out there t 
I look for the bird, and find its nest in the 
same place. One day Uncle Walter climbed up 
to see if there were any eggs; there were five 
in the nest. They were of a dull olive spotted 
with brown; The nest was a rather large one 
and rather roughly made of twigs, being lined 
with smaller roots and fibers. 
Dear little Blue Jay, 
Why do you fly so far away 
When I come out to play 
Under the old Pine Tree? 
— 
Stella Reehl, 
Age 9 years. Alton, Ills, j 
Hammond. 
Dear Wayside. —The house wren of the 
United States is much like the European or 
kitty wren, but is a little larger, more familiar 
and a sweeter singer. 
The house wren is a very small bird. It is 
about five inches long. It is a brownish color. 
It likes to build its nest near dwellings, 
especially in boxes or bird houses. 
It will defend its home with great valor 
against other birds and even cats. 
It lays five or six pale red eggs, and raises 
two broods each season. 
The little wren is a very motherly bird, 
