16 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
poor little field sparrow with two eggs of her own was sadly imposed 
upon by the cowbird with two of its eggs. The cowbird’s eggs were 
removed for there would be little hope for the sparrow’s babies if 
they were allowed to remain. 
Now for an observation of a purple martin in a neighbor’s yard 
across the street while it was still very dark. Promptly at four A. M. 
this martin commenced singing very lustily. Away off in the dis- 
tance there came the answer of another martin which almost re- 
sembled an echo, for my martin sang again and then waited until the 
other sang. This kept up for several minutes, then the first martin’s 
voice began to get fainter and fainter and I concluded that he had 
gone to join the others in the sky where I could still hear them sing- 
ing, happy and free. This puzzled me somewhat as it was so very 
dark. Last fall I had the opportunity of watching preparations for 
the migration flight of two or three hundred martins in the strength- 
ening of wings and bodies by soaring, circling, swinging back and 
forth evening after evening, from seven o’clock until eight. Then 
all at once they disappeared completely from the sky and were not 
seen after that. All had gone to roost. But it was still light and 
other birds, such as starlings, robins and sparrows were still flying 
around. Why did the martins wake so early, while it was still dark, 
at one time, and retire so early, while it was still light, at another? 
Another day there appeared in a snowball thicket a small brown 
bird which puzzled me and I was unable to decide what it was but a 
few minutes later two of these little brown birds were joined by the 
loveliest male indigo bunting I had ever seen. Around this spot were 
black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos, a whip-poor-will, white-throa‘ed, 
white-crowned, Lincoln, field, clay-colored and Harris sparrows. 
Though an old study there are many new experiences awaiting 
the student of nature who persists. 
Chicago, IIl. 
Answers to questions on page 10. 
1. The eyes are directed forward instead of to either side, as are 
those of other birds. 
Bluebird. 
Walk. 
Hummingbird, winter wren, short-billed marsh wren. 
Scratching with both feet at once. 
Always down. 
Chickadee takes the tips of the branches and nuthatch takes the 
trunk and larger limbs. 
8. The pointed tail giving the appearance of a “flying cigar.” 
9. The third and fourth toes are joined for a part of their length. 
10. The tongue is covered with a sticky substance to which the ants 
adhere. 
NO oR WN 
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