Bound 8892.40 tc ICtbrarg This Volume is for REFERENCE USE ONLY lifr^afrtii^ffi^i^^ y A \J / \ » nu. ILLUSTRATED BY CjL/LCyl^ .-*, ' "- 88WJ40 ^ • THE NONPAREIL. I am called the Nonpareil be cause there is no other bird equal to me. I have many names. Some call me the " Painted Finch" or 'Tainted Bunting." Others call me " The Pope," because I wear a purple hood. I live in a cage, eat seeds, and am very fond of flies and spi ders. Sometimes they let me out of the cage and I fly about the room and catch flies. I like to catch them while they are fly- ins:. When I am tired I stop and sing. There is a vase of flowers in front of the mirror. I fly to this vase where I can see myself in the glass. Then I sing as loud as I can. They like to hear me sing. I take a bath every day and how I do make the water fly ! the woods many birds in I used to live where there were like me. We build our nests in bushes, hedges, and low trees. How happy we were. My cage is pretty but I wish I could go back to my home in the woods. See page 15. 6 t . WEET warblers of the sunny hours, / Forever on the wing, I love thee as I love the flowers, The sunlight and the spring. They come like pleasant memories In summer's joyous time, And sing their gushing melodies, As I would sing a rhyme. In the green and quiet places, Where the golden sunlight falls, We sit with smiling faces To list their silver calls. And when their holy anthems Come pealing through the air, Our hearts leap forth to meet them With a blessing and a prayer. Amid the morning's fragrant dew, Amid the mists of even, They warble on as if they drew Their music down from heaven. How sweetly sounds each mellow note Beneath the moon's pale ray, When dying zephyrs rise and float Like lovers' sighs away ! " THE RESPLENDENT TROGON. A Letter to Litttle Boys and Girls of the United States* Is it cold where you live, little boys and girls ? It is not where I live. Don't you think my feathers grew in the bright sunshine ? My home is way down where the big oceans almost meet. The sun is almost straight over head every noon. I live in the woods, way back where the trees are tall and thick. I don't fly around much, but sit on a limb of a tree way up high. Don't you think my red breast looks pretty among the green leaves ? When I see a fly or a berry I dart down after it. My long tail streams out behind like four ribbons. I wish you could see me. My tail never gets in the way. Wouldn't you like to have me sit on your shoulder, little boy ? You see my tail would reach almost to the ground. If you went out into the street with me on your shoulder, I would call whe-oo, wke-oo, the way I do in the woods. All the little boys and girls playing near would look around and say, "What is that noise ? " Then they would see you and me and run up fast and say, u Where did you get that bird?" The little girls would want to pull out my tail feathers to put around their hats. You would not let them, would you? I have a mate. I think she is very nice. Her tail is not so long as mine. Would you like to see her too? She lays eggs every year, and sits on them till little birds hatch out. They are just like us, but they have to grow and get dressed in the pretty feathers like ours. They look like little dumplings when they come out of the eggs. But they are all right. They get very hungry and we carry them lots of things to eat, so they can grow fast. Your friend, R. T. RESPLENDENT TROGON. THE RESPLENDENT TROGON. Yp}\ESPLENDENT Trogons are I "v^X natives of Central America. \ There are fifty kinds, and J-5 V, ^ this is the largest. A systematic account of the superb tribe has been given by Mr. Gould, the only naturalist who has made him self fully acquainted with them. Of all birds there are few which excite so much admiration as the Resplendent Trogon. The skin is so singularly thin that it has been not inaptly compared to wet blotting paper, and the plumage has so light a hold upon the skin that when the bird is shot the feathers are plentifully struck from their sockets by its fall and the blows which it receives from the branches as it comes to the ground. Its eggs, of a pale bluish-green, were first procured by Mr. Robert Owen. Its chief home is in the mountains near Coban in Vera Paz, but it also inhabits forests in othei parts of Guatemala at an elevation of from 6,000 to 9,000 feet. From Mr. Salvin's account of his shooting in Vera Paz we extract the following hunting story : "My companions are ahead and Filipe comes back to say that they have heard a quesal, (Resplendent Trogon). Of course, being anxious to watch as well as to shoot one of these birds myself, I immediately hurry to the spot. I have not to wait long. A distant clattering noise indicates that the bird is on the wing. He settles — a splendid male — on the bough of a tree not seventy yards from where we are hidden. It sits almost motionless on its perch, the body remaining in the same position, the head only moving from side to side. The tail does not hang quite perpendicularly, the angle between the true tail and the vertical being perhaps as much as fifteen or twenty degrees. The tail is occasion ally jerked open and closed again, and now and then slightly raised, causing the long tail coverts to vibrate gracefully. I have not seen all. A ripe fruit catches the quesal's eye and he darts from his perch, plucks the berry, and returns to his former position. This is done with a degree of elegance that defies description. A low whistle from Capriano calls the bird near, and a moment afterward it is in my hand — the first quesal I have seen and shot." The above anecdote is very beauti ful and graphic, but we read the last sentence with pain. We wish to go on record with this our first number as being unreconciled to the ruthless killing of the birds. He who said, not a sparrow "shall fall on the ground without your Father," did not intend such birds to be killed, but to beautify the earth. The cries of the quesal are various. They consist principally of a low note, whe-oo, whe-oo, which the bird repeats, whistling it softly at first, then gradually swelling it into a loud and not unmelodious cry. This is often succeeded by a long note, which begins low and after swelling dies away as it began. Other cries are harsh and discordant. The flight of the Trogon is rapid and straight. The long tail feathers, which never seem to be in the way, stream after him. The bird is never found except in forests of the loftiest trees, the lower branches of which, being high above the ground, seem to be its favorite resort. Its food consists principally of fruit, but occasionally a caterpillar is found in its stomach. THE MANDARIN DUCK. A Letter from China. Quack! Quack! I got in just in time. I came as fast as I could, as I was afraid of being whipped. You see I live in a boat with a great many other ducks. My master and his family live in the boat too. Isn't that a funny place to live in? We stay in all night. Waking up early in the morning, we cry Quack! Quack! until we wake the master. He gets up and opens the gate for us and out we tumble into the water. We are in such a hurry that we fall over each other. We swim about awhile and then we go to shore for breakfast. There are wet places near the shove where we find worms, grubs, and roots. When even ing comes the master blows a whistle. Then we know it is time to come home. We start as soon as we hear it, and hurry, because the last duck in gets a whipping. It does not hurt much but we do not like it, so we all try to get home first; I have web feet, but I perch like other birds on the branches of the trees near the river. My feathers are beautiful in the sunlight. My wife always sits near me. Her dress is not like mine. It is brown and grey. From May to August I lose my bright feathers, then I put on a dress like my wife's. My master's family are Chi nese, and they are very queer. They would not sell me for anything, as they would not like to have me leave China. Sometimes a pair of us are put in a gay cage and carried to a wedding. After the wedding we are given to the bride and groom. I hear the master's whistle again. He wants me to come in and go to bed. Quack! Quack! Good bye! MANDARIN DUCK. % Life-size. THE MANDARIN DUCK. MORE magnificently clothed bird," says Wood, "than the male Chinese Mandarin Duck, can hardly be found, when in health and full nuptial plumage. They are natives of China and Japan, and are held in such high esteem by the Chinese that they can hardly be obtained at any price, the natives having a singular dislike to seeing the birds pass into the possession of Europeans." Though web-footed, the birds have the power of perching and it is a curious sight to watch them on the branches of trees overhanging the pond in which they live, the male and female being always close together, the one gorgeous in purple, green, white, and chestnut, and the other soberly apparelled in brown and grey. This handsome plumage the male loses during four months of the year, from May to August, when he throws off his fine crest, his wing-fans, and all his brilliant colors, assuming the sober tinted dress of his mate. The Summer Duck of America bears a close resemblance to the Mandarin Duck, both in plumage and man ners, and at certain times of the year is hardly to be distinguished from that bird. The foreign duck has been success fully reared in Zoological Gardens, some being hatched under the parent bird and others under a domestic hen, the latter hatching the eggs three days in advance of the former. "The Chinese," says Dr. Bennett, "highly esteem the Mardarin Duck, which exhibits, as they think, a most striking example of conjugal attach ment and fidelity. A pair of them are frequently placed in a gaily decorated cage and carried in their marriage processions, to be presented to the bride and groom as worthy objects of emulation." "I could more easily," wrote a friend of Dr. Bennett's in China to whom he had expressed his desire for a pair of these birds, "send you two live Man darins than a pair of Mandarin Ducks." Concerning their attachment and fidelity to one another, Dr. Bennett recites the following : "Mr. Beale's aviary at Maceo one day was broken open and the male bird stolen from the side of its mate. She refused to be comforted, and, retir ing to the farthest part of the aviary, sat disconsolate, rarely partaking of food, and giving 110 attention to her soiled and rumpled plumage. In vain did another handsome drake endeavor to console her for her loss. After some time the stolen bird was found in the quarters of a miserable Chinaman, and at once restored to its mate. As soon as he recognized his abode he began to flap his wings and quack vehemently. She heard his voice and almost quacked to screaming with ecstacy, both expressing their joy by crossing necks and quacking in concert. The next morning he fell upon the unfor tunate drake who had made consola tory advances to his mate, pecked out his eyes and so injured him that the poor fellow died in the course of a few days." According to Schrenck, this species appears in the countries watered by the Amoor about May, and departs again at the end of August; at this season it is always met with in small or large flocks, which are so extremely shy that they rarely corne within gun shot. Whilst on the wing these par ties crowd closely together in front, the birds in the rear occupying a compara tively free space. THE GOLDEN PHEASANT They call me the Golden Pheasant, because I have a golden crest. It is like a king's crown. Don't you think my dress is beautiful enough for a king? See the large ruff around my neck. I can raise and lower it as I please. I am a very large bird. I am fourteen inches tall and twenty-eight inches long. I can step right over your little robins and meadow larks and blue jays and not touch them. HE well-known Chinese Pheas ant, which we have named the Golden Pheasant, as well as its more sober-colored cousin, the Silver Pheasant, has its home in Eastern Asia. China is pre-eminently the land of Pheasants; for, besides those just men tioned, several other species of the same family are found there. Japan comes next to China as a pheasant country and there are some in India. In China the Golden Pheasant is a great favorite, not only for its splendid plumage and elegant form, but for the excellence of its flesh, which is said to surpass even that of the common pheasant. It has been introduced into Europe, but is fitted only for the aviary. For purposes of the table it is not likely to come into general use, as Sometimes people get some of our eggs and put them under an old hen. By and by little pheasants hatch out, and the hen is very good to them. She watches over them and feeds them, but they do not wish to stay with her, they like their wild life. If they are not well fed they will fly away. I have a wife. Her feathers are beginning to grow like mine. In a few years she will look as I do. We like to have our nests by a fallen tree. there are great difficulties in the way of breeding it in sufficient numbers, and one feels a natural repugnance to the killing of so beautiful a bird for the sake of eating it. The magnificent colors belong only to the male, the female being reddish brown, spotted and marked with a darker hue. The tail of the female is short. The statement is made, however, that some hens kept for six years by Lady Essex gradually assumed an attire like that of the males. Fly-fishers highly esteem the crest and feathers on the back of the neck of the male, as many of the artificial baits owe their chief beauty to the Golden Pheasant. According to Latham, it is called by the Chinese Keuki, or Keukee, a word which means gold flower fowl. "A merry welcome to thee, glittering bird ! Lover of summer flowers and sunny things ! A night hath passed since my young buds have heard The music of thy rainbow-colored wings — Wings that flash spangles out where'er they quiver, Like sunlight rushing o'er a river." «.nr .ntr NT PTT v. A s A •NTT THE NONPARIEL. full of fight is this little bird, that the bird trap pers take advantage of his disposition to make him a prisoner. They place a decoy bird on a cage trap in the attitude of defense, and when it is discovered by the bird an attack at once follows, and the fighter soon finds himself caught. They are a great favorite for the cage, being preferred by many to the Canary. Whatever he may lack as a songster he more than makes up by his wonderful beauty. These birds are very easily tamed, the female, even in the wild state, being so gentle that she allows herself to be lifted from the nest. They are also called the Painted Finch or Painted Bunting. They are found in our Southern States and Mexico. They are very numerous in the State of Louisiana and especially about the City of New Orleans, where they are greatly admired by the French inhabitants, who, true to their native instincts, admire anything with gay colors. As the first name indicates, he has no equal, perhaps, among the songsters for beauty of dress. On ac count of this purple hood, he is called by the French Le Pape, meaning The Pope. The bird makes its appearance in the Southern States the last of April and, during the breeding season, which lasts until July, two broods are raised. The nests are made of fine grass and rest in the crotches of twigs of the low bushes and hedges. The eggs have a dull or pearly-white ground and are marked with blotches and dots of purplish and reddish brown. It is very pleasing to watch the numerous changes which the feathers undergo before the male bird attains his full beauty of color. The young birds of both sexes during the first season are of a fine olive green color on the upper parts and a pale yellow below. The female undergoes no material change in color except becoming darker as she grows older. The male, on the contrary, is three seasons in obtaining his full variety of colors. In the second season the blue begins to show on his head and the red also makes its appearance in spots on the breast. The third year he attains his full beauty. Their favorite resorts are small thickets of low trees and bushes, and when singing they select the highest branches of the bush. They are passionately fond of flies and insects and also eat seeds and rice. Thousands- of these birds are trapped for the cage, and sold annually to our northern people and also in Europe. They are comparatively cheap, even in our northern bird markets, as most of them are exchanged for our Canaries and imported birds that cannot be sent directly to the south on account of climatic conditions. Many a northern lady, while visiting the orange groves of Florida, becomes enchanted with the Nonpareil in his wild state, and some shrewd and wily negro, hearing her expressions of delight, easily procures one, and dis poses of it to her at an extravagant price. THE AUSTRALIAN GRASS PARRAKEET. I am a Parrakeet. I belong to the Parrot family. A man bought me and brought me here. It is not warm here, as it was where I came from. I almost froze coming over here. I am not kept in a cage. I stay in the house and go about as I please. There is a Pussy Cat in the house. Sometimes I ride on her back. I like that. I used to live in the grass lands. It was very warm there. I ran among the thick grass blades, and sat on the stems and ate seeds. I ARRAKEETS have a great fondness for the grass i ,-x lands, where they may be - seen in great numbers, running amid the thick grass blades, clinging to their stems, or feeding on their seeds. Grass seed is their constant food in their native country. In cap tivity they take well to canary seed, and what is remarkable, never pick food with their feet, as do other species of parrots, but always use their beaks. " They do not build a nest, but must be given a piece of wood with a rough hole in the middle, which they will fill to their liking, rejecting all soft lin ing of wool or cotton that vou may furnish them." Only the male sings, warbling nearly all day long, pushing his beak at times into his mate's ear as though to give her the full benefit of his song. The lady, however, does not I had a wife then. Her feathers were almost like mine. We never made nests. When we wanted a nest, we found a hole in a gum tree. I used to sing to my wife while she sat on the nest. I can mock other birds. Some times I warble and chirp at the same time. Then it sounds like two birds singing. My tongue is short and thick, and this helps me to talk. But I have been talking too much. My tongue is getting tired. I think I'll have a ride on Pussy's back. Good bye. seem to appreciate his efforts, but generally pecks him sharply in return. A gentleman who brought a Parra keet from Australia to England, says it suffered greatly from the cold and change of climate and was kept alive by a kind-hearted weather- beaten sailor, who kept it warm and comfortable in his bosom. It was not kept in a cage, but roamed at will about the room, enjoying greatly at times, a ride on the cat's back. At meals he perched upon his master's shoulder, picking the bits he liked from a plate set before him. If the weather was cold or chilly, he would pull himself up by his master's whiskers and warm his feet by stand ing on his bald head. He always announced his master's coming by a shrill call, and no matter what the hour of night, neve* failed to utter a note of welcome, although apparently asleep with his head tucked under his wing. T6 i mm ATTKT'R AT.TATJ n-T3 A SR T= A P?T? A TTTTTTT1 COCK-OF-THE-ROCK. "j.7 Life-size. THE COCK OF THE ROCK. HE Cock-of-the-Rock lives in Guiana. Its nest is found among the rocks. T. K. Salmon says: " I once went to see the breeding place of the Cock- of-the-Rock ; and a darker or wilder place I have never been in. Follow ing up a mountain stream the gorge became gradually more en closed and more rocky, till I arrived at the mouth of a cave with high rock on each side, and overshadowed by high trees, into which the sun never penetrated. All was wet and dark, and the only sound heard was the rushing of the water over the rocks. We had hardly become accustomed to the gloom when a nest was found, a dark bird stealing away from what seemed to be a lump of mud upon the face of the rock. This was a nest of the Cock-of-the-Rock, containing o two eggs ; it was built upon a pro jecting piece, the body being made of mud or clay, then a few sticks, and on the top lined with green moss. It was about five feet from the water. I did not see the male bird, and, indeed, I have rarely ever seen the male and female birds together, though I have seen both sexes in separate flocks.'1 The eggs are described as pale buff with various sized spots of shades from red -brown to pale lilac. It is a solitary and wary bird, feeding before sunrise and after sunset and hiding through the day in sombre ravines. Robert Schomburgh decribes its dance as follows: " While traversing the mountains of Western Guiana we fell in with a pack of these splendid birds, which gave me the opportunity of being an eye witness of their dancing, an ac complishment which I had hitherto regarded as a fable. We cautiously approached their ballet ground and place of meeting, which lay some little distance from the road. The stage, if we may so call it, measured from four to five feet in diameter ; every blade of grass had been removed and the ground was as smooth as if leveled by human hands. On this space we saw one of the birds dance and jump about, while | the others evidently played the part of j admiring spectators At one moment i it expanded its wings, threw its head in the air, or spread out its tail like a peacock scratching the ground with its loot ; all this took place with a sort of hopping gait, until tired, when on emitting a peculiar note, its place was immediately filled by another per former. In this manner the different birds went through their terpsichorean exercises, each retiring to its place among the spectators, who had settled on the low bushes near the theatre of operations. We counted ten males and two females in the flock. The noise of a breaking stick unfortunately raised an alarm, when the whole com pany of dancers immediately flew off." " The Indians, who place great value on their skins, eagerly seek out their playing grounds, and armed with their blow-tubes and poisoned arrows, lie in wait for the dances. The hunter does not attempt to use his weapon until the company is quite engrossed in the performance, when the birds become so pre-occupied with their amusement that four or five are often killed before the survivors detect the danger and decamp." THE RED BIRD OF PARADISE. My home is on an island where it is very warm. I fly among the tall trees and eat fruit and insects. See my beautiful feathers. The ladies like to wear them in their hats. The feathers of my wife are brown, but she has no long tail feathers. My wife thinks my plumes are very beautiful. When we have a party, we go with our wives to a tall tree. We spread our beautiful plumes while our wives sit and watch us. Sometimes a man finds our tree and builds a hut among the lower branches. He hides in the hut and while we are spreading our feathers shoots at us. The arrows are not sharp. They do not draw blood. When they dry the skins they take off the feet and wings. This is why people used to think we had neither feet nor wings. They also thought we lived on the dews of heaven and the honey of flowers. This is why we are called the Birds of Paradise. " Upon its waving feathers poised in air, Feathers, or rather clouds of golden down, With streamers thrown luxuriantly out In all the wantonness of winged wealth." 22 RED BIRD OF PARADISE. •*/» Life -size. THE RED BIRD OF PARADISE. IRDS of Paradise are found only in New Guinea and ontheneighboringislands. Thespecies presented here is found only on a few islands. In former days very singular ideas prevailed concerning these birds and the most extravagant tales were told of the life they led in their native lands. The natives of New Guinea, in preparing their skins for exportation, had removed all traces of legs, so that it was popularly supposed they possessed none, and on account of their want of feet and their great beauty, were called the Birds of Paradise, retaining, it was thought, the forms they had borne in the Garden of Eden, living upon dew or ether, through which it was imagined they perpetually floated by the aid of their long cloud-like plumage. Of one in confinement Dr. Bennett says: "I observed the bird, before eating a grasshopper, place the in sect upon the perch, keep it firmly fixed by the claws, and, divesting it of the legs, wings, etc., devour it with the head always first. It rarely alights upon the ground, and so proud is the creature of its elegant dress that it never permits a soil to remain upon it, frequently spreading out its wings and feathers, regarding its splendid self in every direction." The sounds uttered by this bird are very peculiar, resembling somewhat the cawing of the Raven, but change gradually to a varied scale in musical gradations, like he, hi, ho, hoiv / He frequently raises his voice, sending forth notes of such power as to be heard at a long distance. These notes are wliack, whack, uttered in a barking tone, the last being a low note in conclusion. While creeping amongstthe branches in search of insects, he utters a soft clucking note. During the entire day he flies incessantly from one tree to another, perching but a few moments, and concealing himself among the foliage at the least suspicion of danger. In Bennett's "Wanderings" is an entertaining description of Mr. Beale's bird at Maceo. "This elegant bird," he says, "has a light, playful, and graceful manner, with an arch and impudent look, dances about when a visitor approaches the cage, and seems delighted at being made an object of admiration. It bathes twice daily, and after performing its ablutions throws its delicate feathers up nearly over its head, the quills of which have a peculiar structure, enabling the bird to effect this object. To watch this bird make its toilet is one of the most interesting sights of nature; the vanity which inspires its every movement, the rapturous delight with which it views its enchanting self, its arch look when demanding the spectator's admiration, are all pardonable in a delicate creature so richly embellished, so neat and cleanly, so fastidious in its tastes, so scrupulously exact in its observ ances, and so winning in all its ways." Says a traveler in New Guinea: " As we were drawing near a small grove of teak-trees, our eyes were dazzled with a sight more beautiful than any I had yet beheld. It was that of a Bird of Paradise moving through the bright light of the morn ing sun. I now saw that the birds must be seen alive in their native forests, in order to fully comprehend the poetic beauty of the words Birds of Paradise. They seem the inhabi tants of a fairer world than ours, things that have wandered in some way from their home, and found the earth to show us something of the beauty of worlds beyond." 25 THE YELLOW THROATED TOUCAN. I am a Toucan and I live in a very warm country. See my handsome black coat and my yellow vest. My toes are like a parrot's, two in front and two behind. They help me to hold to the limbs. Look at my large beak. It looks heavy but it is not, as it is filled with air cells. These make it very light. Do you like my blue eyes ? My nest is very hard to find. If I tell you where it is, you will not take the eggs, will you? It is in a hollow limb of a very high tree. I am very fond of fruit, and for this reason the people on the plantations do not like me very well. I can fly very fast, but I can not get along so well on the ground. I keep my feet far apart and hop. I like to sit in the top of the tallest trees. Then I am not afraid. Nothing can reach me there but a rifle ball. I do not like the owl, he is so ugly. When we find an owl we get in a circle around him and snap our great beaks, and jerk our tails up and down and scream. He is very much afraid of us. The people where I live like our yellow breasts. They wear them on their heads, and also put them on the ends of their bows. We sometimes sit together in a tree and snap our beaks and shout. This is why we have been called " Preacher Birds." We can scream so loud that we may be heard a mile away. Our song is u Tucano ! Tucano ! " I think it is a pretty song, but the people do not like it very much. YELLOW THROATED TOUCAN. THE YELLOW THROATED TOUCAN. HE Toucans are a numerous race of South American birds, at once recognizable by the prodigious size of their beaks and by the richness of their plumage. " These birds are very common," says Prince Von Wied, " in all parts of the extrensive forests of the Brazils and are killed for the table in large numbers during the cool seasons. Their eggs are deposited in the hollow limbs and holes of the colossal trees, so common in the tropical forests, but their nests are very difficult to find. The egg is said to be white. They are very fond of fruit, oranges, guavas and plantains, and when these fruits are ripe make sad havoc among the neigh boring plantations. In return for these depredations the planter eats their flesh, which is very delicate." The flight of these birds is easy and graceful, sweeping with facility over the loftiest trees of their native forests, their strangely developed bills being no encumbrance to them, replete as they are with a tissue of air-filled cells rendering them very light and even buoyant. On the ground they get along with a rather awkward hopping movement, their legs being kept widely apart. In ascending a tree they do not climb but mount from one branch to another with a series of jumps, ascending to the tops of the very loftiest trees, safe from every missle except a rifle ball. They have a habit of sitting on the branches in flocks, lifting their bills, clattering them together, and shouting hoarsely all the while, from which custom the natives call them Preacher- birds. Sometimes the whole party, including the sentinel, set up a simultaneous yell so deafeningly loud that it can be heard a mile. They are very loquacious birds and are often discovered through their perpet ual chattering. Their cry resembles the word "Tucano," which has given origin to the peculiar name. When settling itself to sleep, the Toucan packs itself up in a very sys tematic manner, supporting its huge beak by resting it on its back, and tuck ing it completely among the feathers, while it doubles its tail across its back just as if it moved on hinges. So com pletely is the large bill hidden among the feathers, that hardly a trace of it is visible in spite of its great size and bright color, so that the bird when sleeping looks like a great ball of loose feathers. Sir R. Owen concludes that the large beak is of service in masticating food compensating for the absence of any grinding structures in the in testinal tract. Says a naturalist : u We turned into a gloomy forest and for some time saw nothing but a huge brown moth, which looked almost like a bat on the wing. Suddenly we heard high upon the trees a short shrieking sort of noise end ing in a hiss, and our guide became excited and said, "Toucan!" The birds were very wary and made off. They are much in quest and often shot at. At last we caught sight of a pair, but they were at the top of such a high tree that they were out of range. Presently, when I had about lost hope, I heard loud calls, and three birds came and settled in a low bush in the middle of the path. I shot one and it proved to be a very large toucan. The bird was not quite dead when I picked it up, and it bit me severely with its huge bill." THE RED RUMPED TANAGER. I have just been singing my morning song, and I wish you could have heard it. I think you would have liked it. I always sing very early in the morning. I sing because I am happy, and the people like to hear me. My home is near a small stream, where there are low woods and underbrush along its banks. There is an old dead tree there, and just before the sun is up I fly to this tree. I sit on one of the branches and sing for about half an hour. Then I fly away to get my breakfast. I am very fond of fruit. Bananas grow where I live, and I like them best of all. I eat insects, and sometimes I fly to the rice fields and swing on the stalks and eat rice. The people say I do much harm to the rice, but I do not see why it is wrong for me to eat it, for I think there is enough for all. I must go now and get my breakfast. If you ever come to see me I will sing to you. I will show you my wife, too. She looks just like me. Be sure to get up very early. If you do not, you will be too late for my song. "Birds, Birds ! ye are beautiful things, With your earth-treading feet and your cloud-cleaving wings. Where shall man wander, and where shall he dwell — Beautiful birds — that ye come not as well ? Ye have nests on the mountain, all rugged and stark, Ye have nests in the forest, all tangled and dark ; Ye build and ye brood 'neath the cottagers' eaves, And ye sleep on the sod, 'mid the bonnie green leaves ; Ye hide in the heather, ye lurk in the brake, Ye dine in the sweet flags that shadow the lake ; Ye skim where the stream parts the orchard decked land, Ye dance where the foam sweeps the desolate strand." 3° RED BUMPED TANAGER. Life-size. THE RED RUMPED TANAGER. N American family, the Tan- agers are mostly birds of very brilliant plumage. .There are 300 species, a few being tropical birds. They are found in British and French Guiana, living in the latter country in open spots of dwellings and feeding on bananas and other fruits. They are also said to do much harm in the rice fields. In "The Auk," of July, 1893, Mr. George K. Cherrie, of the Field Mus eum, says of the Red-Ruinped Tanager. " During my stay at Boruca and Palmar, (the last of February) the breeding season was at its height, and I observed many of the Costa Rica Red-Rumps nesting. In almost every instance where possible I collected both parents of the nests, and in the majority of cases found the males wear ing the same dress as the females. In a few instances the male was in mottled plumage, evidently just assum ing the adult phase, and in a lesser number of examples the male was in fully adult plumage — velvety black and crimson red. From the above it is clear that the males begin to breed before they attain fully adult plumage, and that they retain the dress of the female until, at least, the beginning of the second year. "While on this trip I had many proofs that, in spite of its rich plumage, and being a bird of the tropics, it is well worthy to hold a place of honor among the song birds. And if the bird chooses an early hour and a secluded spot for expressing its happiness, the melody is none the less delightful. At the little village of Buenos Aires, on the Rio Grande of Terraba, I heard the song more fre quently than at any other point. Close by the ranch house at which we were staying, there is a small stream bordered by low woods and under brush, that formed a favorite resort for the birds. Just below the ranch is a convenient spot where we took our morning bath. I was always there just as the day was breaking. On the opposite bank was a small open space in the brush occupied by the limbs of a dead tree. On one of these branches, and always the same one, was the spot chosen by a Red-rump to pour forth his morning song. Some mornings I found him busy with his music when I arrived, and again he would be a few minutes behind me. Sometimes he would come from one direction, some times from another, but he always alighted at the same spot and then lost no time in commencing his song. While singing, the body was swayed to and fro, much after the manner of a canary while singing. The song would last for perhaps half an hour, and then away the singer would go. I have not enough musical ability to describe the song, but will say that often I remained standing quietly for a long time, only that I might listen to the music." 33 THE GOLDEN ORIOLE. find the Golden Oriole in America only. Accord ing to Mr. Nuttall, it is migratory, appearing in considerable numbers in West Florida about the middle of March. It is a good songster, and in a state of captivity imitates various tunes. This beautiful bird feeds on fruits and insects, and its nest is con structed of blades of grass, wool, hair, fine strings, and various vegetable fibers, which are so curiously inter woven as to confine and sustain each other. The nest is usually suspended from a forked and slender branch, in shape like a deep basin and generally lined with fine feathers. "On arriving at their breeding locality they appear full of life and activity, darting incessantly through the lofty branches of the tallest trees, appearing and vanishing restlessly, flashing at intervals into sight from amidst the tender waving foliage, and seem like living gems intended to decorate the verdant garments of the fresh clad forest." It is said these birds are so attached to their young that the female has been taken and conveyed on her eggs, upon which with resolute and fatal instinct she remained faithfully sitting until she expired. An Indiana gentleman relates the following story: "When I was a boy living in the hilly country of Southern Indiana, I remember very vividly the nesting of a pair of fine Orioles. There stood in the barn yard a large and tall sugar tree with limbs within six or eight feet of the ground. "At about thirty feet above the ground I discovered evidences of an Oriole's nest. A few days later I noticed they had done considerably more work, and that they were using horse hair, wool and fine strings. This second visit seemed to create consternation in the minds of the birds, who made a great deal of noise, apparently trying to frighten me away. I went to the barn and got a bunch of horse hair and some wool, and hung it on limbs near the nest. Then climbing up higher, I concealed myself where I could watch the work. In less than five minutes they were using the materials and chatted with evident pleasure over the abundant supply at hand. "They appeared to have some knowledge of spinning, as they would take a horse hair and seemingly wrap it with wool before placing it in position on the nest. "I visited these birds almost daily, and shortly after the nest was com pleted I noticed five little speckled eggs in it. The female was so attached to the nest that I often rubbed her on the back and even lifted her to look at the eggs." 34 CHICAGO COLORTYPE CO GOLDEN ORIOLE. Life-size CHICAGO, December loth, 1896. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY. DEAR SIRS : I am very much pleased with this movement to give such substantial and tangible aid to us on this subject, and for your kind offer also. Respectfully, HARRIET N. WINCHELL, Principal Tilden School. ST. JOSEPH, MICH., January 4, 1897. PRINCIPAL W. J. BLACK, Chicago. DEAR SIR : Thanks for sample copy of " Birds." It is by far the finest thing I have ever seen in that line. I shall take great pleasure in presenting it to my teachers, and shall be glad to be of any assistance to you that I am able. Yours, GEORGE W. LOOMIS, Superintendent City Schools. DES MOINES, IOWA, January 5, 1897. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, Fisher Building, Chicago. I have just seen the January number of " Birds," illustrated by color photography; and think it instructive, delightful and beautiful. Very sincerely, MRS. MINNIE THERESA HATCH, Principal Washington School. L,UTHER, MICH., December 3ist, 1896. W. E. WATT, Chicago, 111. DEAR SIR: Your serial on Birds received and after examination I have no hesitation in saying that it is the best publication of the kind that I have ever seen and I will do all that I can for you in presenting it to my teachers and recommending it to their favorable notice. Very truly, E. G. JOHNSON, Commissioner of Schools. OUR PREMIUM A picture of wonderful beauty of the Golden Pheasant almost life size in a natural scene, pkte 12x1 8 inches, on card 19x25 inches, is given as a premium to yearly subscribers^ Our price on this picture in Art Stores is $3*50 ILLUSTRATED BY COLORED >'J PHOTOGRAPH>»W •--**^>^» Price 15 cents a copy— $1,50 a year. -4 PUBLISHED 1ATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY* CHICAGO- Entered at Chicas-o Post Otfice as Second Class Matter. FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. / SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE ecember 26, 1896. (Dictated by. W. E. Watt, President &e. , Fisher Building, 277 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. My dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for a copy of the .first publication of "Birds." Please enter my name as a regular subscriber. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting publications yet attempted in this direction. It has other attractions in addition to its beauty, and it must win its way to popular favor. 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Send postal-card for particulars, mentioning this paper. AGENTS WANTED D. flPPLETON & GO., Publishers NEW YORK— CHICAGO. CHICAGO OFFICE— 243 Wabash Ave. wh«t woau George Washington think of Mark Hanna? + If you want to know, read "SPIRITS OF '76," By FREDERICK UPHAMADAMS, in last number of New Occasions A magazine of Reform; 96 pages; $1.00 a year; 10 cents a copy. No free sam ples, but to any one sending us 6 2-cent stamps we will mail a sample copy with several reform books ; over 300 pages in all. Agents wanted. Charles H. Kerr & Company, Publishers, 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago. Buy Only the Best Presents for Children. THE FINEST BLACKBOARD MADE. IMPROVED t YOUTHS' COMPANION Indispensable as an element for the general education of the children. This is not a toy, but an Educator for the home. Contains Sixteen Lessons on heavy cardboard, Writing, Drawing, Marking-letters, Music, Animal Forms, etc. Frame made of oak, 4 feet high and 2 feet wide. The Board is reversible and can be used on both sides. Has a desk attachment for writing. Weighs 10 pounds, packed for shipment. Agents Wanted. Send for Agents Prices. THE VAN-BENSON COMPANY, 84 Adams Street, CHICAGO, U.S.A. Price $3.50 WOOD'S KITCHEN CABINET. Has drawers for Wnen, Spices, etc. Receptacles for different kinds of Flour. A Necessity. Price only $10. THE QUEEN CABINET COMPANY, Dept. , 212 Monroe St., CHICAGO. Descriptive matter mailed free to any address on request. •BIRDS" when vou write to Advertisers. A MONTHLY LUSTRATED BY )LOR PHOTOGRAPHY /A €Jm AMERICAN BLUE JAY. 5<; Life-size. NRTURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY OFFICE,: FISHER BUIL.DINO THE BLUE JAY. URING about three-fourths of the year the American Jay is an extremely tame, noisy and even obstrusive bird in its habits. As the breeding season approaches he suddenly becomes silent, preparing the nest in the most secluded parts of his native forests, and exercising all his cunning to keep it concealed. He is omniverous but is especially fond of eggs and young birds. The Jay may be regarded as eminently injurious though in spring he consumes a number of insects to atone for his sins of stealing fruit and berries in autumn. He is a professional nest robber, and other birds are as watchful of him as is a mother of her babe. He glides through the foliage of the trees so swiftly and noiselessly that his presence is scarcely suspected until he has committed some depreda tion. The Robin is his most wary foe, and when the Jay is found near his nest will pursue him and drive him from the neighborhood. He is as brave as he is active, however, and dashes boldly in pursuit of his more plainly attired neighbors who venture to intrude upon his domain. The Jay has a curious antipathy toward the owl, perching on trees above it and keeping up a continual screeching. Some years ago an Ohio gentleman was presented with a mag nificent specimen of the horned owl, which he kept for a time in a large tin cage. In favorable weather the cage was set out of doors, when it would soon be surrounded by Jays, much in the manner described of the Toucan, and an incessant screeching followed, to which the owl appeared indifferent. They would venture near enough to steal a portion of his food, the bars of his cage being sufficiently wide apart to admit them. On one occasion, however, he caught the tail of a Jay in his claws and left the tormentor without his proud appendage. The Jay remains with us through out the year. He is one of the wildest of our birds, the shyest of man, although seeing him most. He makes no regular migrations at certain sea sons, but, unless disturbed, will live out his life close to his favorite haunts. His wings show him to be unfitted for extended flight. Jays are most easily discovered in the morning about sunrise on the tops of young live oaks. Their notes are varied. Later in the day it is more difficult to find them, as they are more silent, and not so much on the tree tops as among the bushes. The Jays breed in woods, forests, orchards, preferring old and very shady trees, placing their nests in the center against the body, or at the bifurcation of large limbs. The nest is formed of twigs and roots ; the eggs are from four to six. THE BLUE JAY. Something glorious, something gay, Flits and flashes this-a-way ! 'Thwart the hemlock's dusky shade, Rich in color full displayed, Swiftly vivid as a flame — Blue as heaven and white as snow — Doth this lovely creature go. What may be his dainty name? "Only this" — the people say — 'Saucy, chattering, scolding Jay ! " 41 THE SWALLOW-TAILED INDIAN ROLLER. .WALLOW-TAILED Indian Rollers are natives of North eastern Africa and Senegam- bia, and also the interior of the Niger district. The bird is so called from its way of occasionally rolling or turning over in its flight, somewhat after the fashion of a tumb ler pigeon. A traveller in describing the habits of the Roller family, says : "On the 1 2th of April I reached Jericho alone, and remained there in solitude for several days, during which time I had many opportunities of observing the grotesque habits of the Roller. For several successive even ings, great flocks of Rollers mustered shortly before sunset on some dona trees near the fountain, with all the noise but without the decorum of Rooks. After a volley of discordant screams, from the sound of which it derives its Arabic name of "schurk- rak," a few birds would start from their perches and commence overhead a series of somersaults. In a moment or two they would be followed by the whole flock, and these gambols would be repeated for a dozen times or more. Everywhere it takes its perch on some conspicuous branch or on the top of a rock, where it can see and be seen. The bare tops of the fig trees, before they put forth their leaves, are in the cultivated terraces, a particularly favorite resort. In the barren Ghor I have often watched it perched uncon cernedly on a knot of gravel or marl in the plain, watching apparently for the emergence of beetles from the sand. Elsewhere I have not seen it settle on the ground. Like Europeans in the East, it can make itself happy without chairs and tables in the desert, but prefers a com fortable easy chair when it is to be found. Its nest I have seen in ruins, in holes in rocks, in burrows, in steep sand cliffs, but far more generally in hollow trees. The colony in the Wady Kelt used burrows excavated by them selves, and many a hole did they relin quish, owing to the difficulty of work ing it. So cunningly were the nests placed under a crumbling, treacher ous ledge, overhanging a chasm of perhaps one or two hundred feet, that we were completely foiled in our siege. We obtained a nest of six eggs, quite fresh, in a hollow tree in Bashan, near Gadara, on the 6th of May. The total length of the Roller is about twelve inches. The Swallow- tailed Indian Roller, of which we pre sent a specimen, differs from the Euro- peon Roller only in having the outer tail feathers elongated to an extent of several inches." 42 SWALLOW-TAILED INDIAN ROLLER. 3 s Life-size. THE RED HEADED WOODPECKER, no bird in North America is more uni- versally known than the ±-J Red Headed Woodpecker. He is found in all parts of the United States and is sometimes called, for short, by the significant name of Red- Head. His tri-colored plumage, red, white and black, glossed with steel blue, is so striking and characteristic, and his predatory habits in the orchards and corn-fields, and fondness for hovering along the fences, so very notorious, that almost every child is acquainted with the Red Headed Woodpecker. In the immediate neighborhood of large cities, where the old timber is chiefly cut down, he is not so frequently found. Wherever there is a deadening, however, you will find him, and in the dead tops and limbs of high trees he makes his home. Towards the* mountains, particularly in the vicinity of creeks and rivers, these birds are extremely numerous, especially in the latter end of summer. It is interesting to hear them rattling on the dead leaves of trees or see them on the roadside fences, where they flit from stake to stake. We remember a tremendous and quite alarming and afterwards ludicrous rattling by one of them on some loose tin roofing on a neighbor's house. This occurred so often that the owner, to secure peace had the roof repaired. They love the wild cherries, the earl iest and sweetest apples, for, as is said of him, " he is so excellent a connois seur in fruit, that whenever an apple or pear is found broached by him, it is sure to be among the ripest and best flavored. When alarmed he seizes a capital one by striking his open bill into it, and bears it oft to the woods." He eats the rich, succulent, milky young corn with voracity. He is of a gay and frolicsome disposition, and half a dozen of the fraternity are frequently seen diving and vociferating around the high dead limbs of some large trees, pursuing and playing with each other, and amusing the passerby with their gambols. He is a comical fellow, too, prying around at you from the bole of a tree or from his nesting hole therein. Though a lover of fruit, he does more good than injury. Insects are his natural food, and form at least two thirds of his subsistence. He devours the destructive insects that penetrate the bark and body of a tree to deposit their eggs and larvae. About the middle of May, he begins to construct his nest, which is formed in the body of large limbs of trees, taking in no material but smoothing it within to the proper shape and size. The female lays six eggs, of a pure white. The young appear about the first of June. About the middle of September the Red Heads begin to migrate to warmer climates, travelling at night time in an irregular way like a disbanded army and stopping for rest and food through the day. The black snake is the deadly foe of the Red Head, frequently entering his nest, feeding upon the young, and remaining for days in .possession. " The eager school-boy, after hazard ing his neck to reach the Wood pecker's hole, at the triumphant moment when he thinks the nestlings his own, strips his arm, launches it down into the cavity, and grasping what he conceives to be the callow young, starts with horror at the sight of a hideous snake, almost drops from his giddy pinnacle, and retreats down the tree with terror and precipitation." 45 THE WOODPECKER The Drummer Bird. My dear girls and boys : The man who told me to keep still and look pleasant while he took my picture said I might write you a letter to send with it. You say I always keep on the other side of the tree from you. That is because someone has told you that I spoil trees, and I am afraid that you will want to punish me for it. I do not spoil trees. The trees like to have me come to visit them, for I eat the insects that are killing them. Shall I tell you how I do this? I cling to the tree with my strong claws so sharply hooked. The pointed feathers of my tail are stiff enough to help hold me against the bark. Then my breast bone is quite flat, so that I may press close to the tree. When I am all ready you hear my r-r-rap — just like a rattle. My head goes as quickly as if it were moved by a spring. Such a strong, sharp bill makes the chips fly! The tiny tunnel I dig just reaches the insect. Then I thrust out my long tongue. It has a sharp, horny tip, and has barbs on it too. Yery tiny insects stick to a liquid like glue that covers my tongue. I suppose I must tell you that I like a taste of the ripest fruit and grain. Don't you think I earn a little when I work so hard keeping the trees healthy? I must tell you about the deep tunnel my mate and I cut out of a tree. It is just wide enough for us to slip into. It is not straight down, but bent, so that the rain cannot get to the bot tom. There we make a nest of little chips for our five white eggs. I should like to tell you one of the stories that some boys and girls tell about my red head. You will find it on another page of the book. Now I must fly away to peck for more bugs. Your loving friend, WOODPECKER. 46 RED HEADED WOODPECKER Life-size. MEXICAN MOT MOT. % Life-size. MEXICAN MOT MOT. OT MOTS are peculiar to the new world, being found from Mexico throughout the whole of Central America and the South American continent. The general plumage is green, and the majority of the species have a large racket at the end of the center tail feathers, formed by the bird itself. The Houton, (so called from his note,) according to Waterson, ranks high in beauty among the birds of Demerara. This beautiful creature seems to suppose that its beauty can be increased by trimming its tail, which undergoes the same operation as one's hair in a barber shop, using its own beak, which is serrated, in lieu of a pair of scissors. As soon as its tail is fully grown, he begins about an inch from the extremity of the two longest feathers in it and cuts away the web on both sides of the shaft, making a gap about an inch long. Both male and female wear their tails in this manner, which gives them a remarkable appearance among all other birds. To observe this bird in his native haunts, one must be in the forest at dawn. He shuns the society of man. The thick and gloomy forests are pre ferred by the Houton. In those far extending wilds, about day-break, you hear him call in distinct and melan choly tone, " Houton, Houton! " An observer says, "Move cautiously to the place 'from which the sound proceeds, and you will see him sitting in the underwood, about a couple of yards from the ground, his tail moving up and down every time he articulates " Houton!" The Mot Mot lives on insects and berries found among the underwood, and very rarely is seen in the lofty trees. He makes no nest, but rears his young in a hole in the sand, gen erally on the side of a hill. Mr. Osbert Salvin tells this curious anecdote : " Some years ago the Zoo logical Society possessed a specimen which lived in one of the large cages of the parrot house by itself. I have a very distinct recollection of the bird, for I used every time I saw it to cheer it up a bit by whistling such of its notes as I had picked up in the forests of America. The bird always seemed to appreciate this attention, for although it never replied, it became at once animated, hopped about the cage, and swung its tail from side to side like the pendulum of a clock. For a long time its tail had perfect spatules, but toward the end of its life I noticed that the median feathers were no longer trimmed with such precision, and on looking at its beak I noticed that from some cause or other it did not close properly, gaped slightly at the tip, and had thus become unfitted for removing the vanes of the feathers." KING PARROT OR KING LORY. )ORY is the name of certain birds, mostly from the Moluc cas and New Guinea, which are remarkable for their bright scarlet or crimson coloring, though also applied to some others in which tthe plumage is chiefly green. Much interest has been excited by the discovery of Dr. A. B. Meyer that the birds of this genus having a red plumage are the females of those wear ing green feathers. For a time there was much difference of opinion on this subject, but the assertion is now generally admitted. They are called " brush-tongued " Parrots. The color of the first plumage of the young is still unsettled. This bird is a favorite among bird fanciers, is readily tamed, and is of an affect ionate nature. It can be taught to speak very creditably, and is very fond of attracting the attention of strangers and receiving the caresses of those whom it likes. There are few things a parrot pre fers to nuts and the stones of various fruits. Wood says he once succeeded in obtaining the affections of a Parisian Parrot, solely through the medium of peach stones which he always saved for the bird and for which it regularly began to gabble as soon as it saw him coming. " When taken freshly from the peach, " he says, " the stones are very acceptable to the parrot, who turns them over, chuckling all the while to show his satisfaction, and picking all the soft parts from the deep indentations in the stone." He used to crack the stone before giving it to the bird, when his delight knew no bounds. They are fond of hot condi ments, cayenne pepper or the capsicum pod. If a bird be ailing, a capsicum will often set it right again. The parrot is one of the hardiest of birds when well cared for and will live to a great age. Some of these birds have been known to attain an age of seventy years, and one seen by Vail- lant had reached the patriarchal age of ninety three. At sixty its memory began to fail, at sixty-five the moult became very irregular and the tail changed to yellow. At ninety it was a very decrepit creature, almost blind and quite silent, having forgotten its former abundant stock of words. A gentleman once had for many years a parrot of seemingly rare intel ligence. It was his custom during the summer to hang the parrot's cage in front of his shop in a country village, where the bird would talk and laugh and cry, and condole with itself. Dogs were his special aversion and on occa sions when he had food to spare, he would drop it out of the cage and whistle long and loud for them. When the dogs had assembled to his satisfac tion he would suddenly scream in the fiercest accents, " Get out, dogs! " and when they had scattered in alarm his enjoyment of it was demonstrative. This parrot's vocabulary, however, was not the most refined, his master having equipped him with certain piratical idioms. According to authority, the parrot owner will find the health of his pet improved and its happiness promoted by giving it, every now and then, a small log or branch on which the mosses and lichens are still growing. Meat, fish, and other similar articles of diet are given with evil effects. It is impossible for anyone who has only seen these birds in a cage or small inclosure to conceive what must be the gorgeous appearance of a flock, either in full flight, and performing their various evolutions, under a vertical sun, or sporting among the superb foliage of a tropical forest which, without these, and other brilliant tenants, would present only a solitude of luxuriant vegetation. KING PARROT % Life-size. THE AMERICAN ROBIN. 1 Come, sweetest of the feathered throng." UR American Robin must not be confounded with the English Robin Redbreast, although both bear the same name. It is the latter bird in whose praise so much has been written in fable and song. The American Robin be longs to the Thrush family; the Mock ing bird, Cat-bird and Brown Thrush, or Thrasher, being other familiar chil dren. In this family, bird organization reaches its highest development. This bird is larger than his English cousin the Redbreast and many think has a finer note than any other of the Thrush family. The Robin courts the society of man, following close upon the plow and the spade and often becoming quite tame and domestic. It feeds for a month or two on strawberries and cherries, but generally on worms and insects picked out of the ground. It destroys the larvae of many insects in the soil and is a positive blessing to man, designed by the Creator for ornament and pleasure, and use in protecting vegeta tion. John Burroughs, the bird lover, says it is the most native and demo cratic of our birds. It is widely diffused over the country, migrating to milder climates in the Winter. We have heard him in the early dawn on Nantucket Island wel coming the coming day, in the valleys of the Great and the Little Miama, in the parks of Chicago, and on the plains of Kansas, his song ever cheering and friendly. It is one of the earliest her alds of Spring, coming as early as March or April, and is one of the latest birds to leave us in Autumn. Its song is a welcome prelude to the gen eral concert of Summer. " When Robin Redbreast sings, We think on budding Springs." The Robin is not one of our most charming songsters, yet its carol is sweet, hearty and melodious. Its prin cipal song is in the morning before sunrise, when it mounts the top of some tall tree, and with its wonderful power of song, announces the coming of day. When educated, it imitates the sounds of various birds, and even sings tunes. It must be amusing to hear it pipe out so solemn a strain as Old Hundred. It has no remarkable habits. It shows considerable courage and anxiety for its young, and is a pattern of propriety when keeping house and concerned with the care of its off spring. Two broods are often reared out of the same nest. In the Fall these birds become restless and wandering, often congregating in large flocks, when, being quite fat, they are much esteemed as food. The Robin's nest is sometimes built in a corner of the porch, but oftener it is saddled on the horizontal limb of an orchard tree. It is so large and poorly concealed that any boy can find it, yet it is seldom molested. The Robin is not a skillful architect. The masonry of its nest is rough and the material course, being composed largely of leaves or old grass, cemented with mud. The eggs number four to six and are greenish blue in color. An observer tells the following story of this domestic favorite: " For the last three years a Robin has nested on a projecting pillar that supports the front piazza. In the Spring of the first year she built her nest on the top of the pillar — a rude affair — it was probably her first effort. The same season she made her second nest in the forks of an Oak, which took her only a few hours to complete. [Continued on page 59 ] 55 THE AMERICAN ROBIN. The Bird of the Morning. Yes, my dear readers, I am the bird of the morning. Very few of you rise early enough to hear my first song. By the time you are awake our little ones have had their breakfast, Mrs. Robin and I have had our morning bath and we are all ready to greet you with our morning song. I wonder if any of you have seen our nest and can tell the color of the eggs that Mrs. Robin lays. Some time I will let you peep into the nest and see them, but of course you will not touch them. I wonder, too, if you know any of my cousins — the Mocking bird, the Cat bird or the Brown Thrush — I think I shall ask them to have their pictures taken soon and talk to you about our gay times. Did you ever see one of my cousins on the ground? I don't OW do the robins build their nest? Robin Red Breast told me, First a wisp of yellow hay In a pretty round they lay ; Then some shreds of downy floss, Feathers too, and bits of moss, Woven with a sweet, sweet song, This way, that way, and across : That's what Robin told me. believe you can tell how I move about. Some of you may say I run, and some of you may say I hop, and others of you may say I do both. Well, I'll tell you how to find out. Just watch me and see. My little friends up north won't be able to see me though until next month, as I do not dare leave the warm south until Jack Frost leaves the ground so I can find worms to eat. I shall be about the first bird to visit you next month and I want you to watch for me. When I do come it will be to stay a long time, for I shall be the last to leave you. Just think, the first to come and last to leave. Don't you think we ought to be great friends? Let us get better acquainted when next we meet. Your friend, ROBIN. Where do the robins hide their nest? Robin Red Breast told me, Up among the leaves so deep, Where the sunbeams rarely creep, Long before the winds are cold, L/ong before the leaves are gold Bright-eyed stars will peep and see Baby Robins — one, two, three : That's what Robin told me. AMERICAN ROBIN Life-size. THE AMERICAN ROBIN.— Continued from page 55. She reared three broods that season; for the third family she returned to the piazza., and repaired the first nest. The following Spring she came again to the piazza, but selected another pillar for the site of her domicile, the construction of which was a decided improvement upon the first. For the next nest she returned to the Oak and raised a second story on the old one of the previous year, but making it much more sy metrical than the one beneath. The present season her first dwelling was as before, erected on a pillar of the piazza — as fine a structure as I ever saw this species build. When this brood was fledged she again repaired to the Oak, and reared a third story on the old domicile, using the moss before mentioned, making a very elaborate affair, and finally finishing up by festooning it with long sprays of moss. This bird and her mate were quite tame. I fed them with whortleberries, which they seemed to relish, and they would come almost to my feet to get them. " The amount of food which the young robin is capable of absorbing is enormous. A couple of vigorous, half-grown birds have been fed, and in twelve hours devoured ravenously, sixty-eight earth worms, weighing thirty-four pennyweight, or forty-one per cent more than their own weight. A man at this rate should eat about seventy pounds of flesh per day, and drink five or six gallons of water. The following poem by the good Quaker poet Whittier is sweet because he wrote it, interesting because it re cites an old legend which incidentally explains the color of the robin's breast, and unique because it is one of the few poems about our American bird. THE ROBIN. My old Welsh neighbor over the way Crept slowly out in the sun of spring, Pushed from her ears the locks of gray, And listened to hear the robin sing. Her grandson, playing at marbles, stopped, And — cruel in sport, as boys will be — Tossed a stone at the bird, who hopped From bough to bough in the apple tree. " Nay!" said the grandmother ; "have you not heard, My poor, bad boy! of the fiery pit, And how, drop by drop, this merciful bird Carries the water that quenches it ? ' 'He brings cool dew in his little bill, And lets it fall on the souls of sin: You can see the mark on his red breast still Of fires that scorch as he drops it in. "My poor Bron rhuddyn ! my breast-burned bird, Singing so sweetly from limb to limb, Very dear to the heart of Our Lord Is he who pities the lost like Him." "Amen!" I said to the beautiful myth ; " Sing, bird of God, in my heart as well: Each good thought is a drop wherewith To cool and lessen the fires of hell. "Prayers of love like rain-drops fall, Tears of pity are cooling dew, And dear to the heart of Our Lord are all Who suffer like Him in the good they do." 59 THE KINGFISHER. Dear Children: I shall soon arrive from the south. I hear that all the birds are going to tell stories to the boys and girls. I have never talked much with children myself for I never really cared for people. They used to say that the dead body of a Kingfisher kept them safe in war and they said also that it protected them in lightning. Even now in some places in France they call us the moth birds, for they believe that our bodies will keep away moths from woolen cloth. I wish that people would not believe such things about us. Perhaps you cannot understand me when I talk. You may think that you hear only a child's rattle. Listen again ! It is I, the Kingfisher. That sound is my way of talking. I live in the deep woods. I own a beautiful stream and a clear, cool lake. Oh, the little fish in that lake are good enough for a king to eat! I know, for I am a king. You may see me or some of my mates near the lake any pleasant day. People used to say that we always brought pleasant weather. That is a joke. It is the pleasant weather that always brings us from our homes. When it storms or rains we cannot see the fish in the lake. Then we may as well stay in our nests. My home once belonged to a water rat. He dug the fine hall in the gravel bank in my stream. It is nearly six feet long. The end of it is just the kind of a place for a nest. It is warm, dry and dark. In June my wife and I will settle down in it. By that time we shall have the nest well lined with fish bones. We shall put in some dried grass too. The fish bones make a fine lin ing for a nest. You know we swallow the fish whole, but we save all the bones for our nest. I shall help my wife hatch her five white eggs and shall try in every way to make my family safe. Please tell the people not to believe those strange things about me and you will greatly oblige, A neighbor, THE KINGFISHER. KINGFISHEK. •H Life-size. THE KINGFISHER. The Lone Fisherman. HE American species belongs to the true group of Kingfish ers. It occupies the whole continent of North America and although migrating in the north, he is a constant resident of our south ern states. The belted Kingfisher is the only variety found along the inland streams of the United States. Audubon declares that "belted" should apply only to the female however. Like most birds of brilliant plum age, the Kingfisher prefers a quiet and secluded haunt. It loves the little trout streams, with wooded and pre cipitous banks, the still ponds and small lakes, ornamental waters in parks, where it is not molested, and the sides of sluggish rivers, drains and mill-ponds. Here in such a haunt the bird often* flits past like an indistinct gleam of bluish light. Fortune may sometimes favor the observer and the bird may alight on some twig over the stream, its weight causing it to sway gently to and fro. It eagerly scans the shoal of young trout sporting in the pool below, when suddenly it drops down into the water, and, almost before the observer is aware of the fact, is back again to its perch with a struggling fish in its beak. A few blows on the branch and its prey is ready for the dexterous movement of the bill, which places it in a position for swallowing. Some times the captured fish is adroitly jerked into the air and caught as it falls. Fish is the principal food of the Kingfisher ; but it also eats various kinds of insects, shrimps, and even small crabs. It rears its young in a hole, which is made in the banks of the stream it frequents. It is a slat ternly bird, fowls its own nest and its peerless eggs. The nesting hole is bored rather slowly, and takes from one to two weeks to complete. Six or eight white glossy eggs are laid, some times on the bare soil, but often on the fish bones which, being indigestible, are thrown up by the bird in pellets. The Kingfisher has a crest of feath ers on the top of his head, which he raises and lowers, especially when try ing to drive intruders away from his nest. The plumage is compact and oily, making it almost impervious to water. The flesh is fishy and disagreeable to the taste, but the eggs are said to be good eating. The wings are long and pointed and the bill longer than the head. The voice is harsh and monot onous. It is said that few birds are con nected with more fables than the King fisher. The superstition that a dead Kingfisher when suspended by the throat, would turn its beak to that particular point of the compass from which the wind blew, is now dead. It was also supposed to possess many astonishing virtues, as that its dried body would avert thunderbolts, and if kept in a wardrobe would preserve from moths the woolen stuffs and the like contained in it. " Under the name of " halcyon," it was fabled by the ancients to build its nest on the surface of the sea, and to have the power of calming the troubled waves during its period of incubation ; hence the phrase " halcyon days." A pair of Kingfishers have had their residence in a bank at the south end of Washington Park, Chicago, for at least three seasons past. We have watched the Kingfisher from secluded spots on Long Island ponds and tidal streams, where his peculiar laughing note is the same as that which greets the ear of the fisherman on far inland streams on still summer days. 63 THE BLACKBIRD, " I could not think so plain a bird Could sing so fine a song." One on another against the wall Pile up the books — I am done with them all : I shall be wise, if I ever am wise, Out of my own ears, and of my own eyes. One day of the woods and their balmy light — One hour on the top of a breezy hill, There in the sassafras all out of sight The Blackbird is splitting his slender bill For the ease of his heart : Do you think if he said "I will sing like this bird with the mud colored back And the two little spots of gold over his eyes, Or like to this shy little creature that flies So low to the ground, with the amethyst rings About her small throat — all alive when she sings With a glitter of shivering green — for the rest, Gray shading to gray, with the sheen of her breast Half rose and half fawn — Or like this one so proud, That flutters so restless, and cries out so loud, With stiff horny beak and a top-knotted head, And a lining of scarlet laid under his wings — " Do you think, if he said, "I'm ashamed to be black! " That he could have shaken the sassafras-tree As he does with the song he was born to ? not he ! — AUCE GARY. "Do you ne'er think what wondrous beings these? Do you ne'er think who made them — who taught The dialect they speak, where melodies Alone are the interpreters of thought? Whose household words are songs in many keys, Sweeter than instrument of man ere caught ! Whose habitation in the tree-tops even Are half-way houses on the road to heaven ! **•##*** ' ' You call them thieves or pillagers ; but know, They are the winged wardens of your farms, Who from the cornfields drive the insidious foe, And from your harvest keep a hundred harms ; Even the blackest of them all, the crow, Renders good service as your man-at-arms, Crushing the beetle in his coat of mail, And crying havoc on the slug and snail." — FROM "THE BIRDS OF KH.I.INGWORTH. " 64 BLUE MOUNTAIN LORY. 5i Life-size. BLUE MOUNTAIN LORY. HIS bird inhabits the vast plains of the interior of New South Wales. It is one of the hand somest, not only of the Aus tralian Parrots, but takes fore most place among the most gorge ously dressed members of the Parrot family that are to be met with in any part of the world. It is about eleven or twelve inches in length. The female cannot with certainty be dis tinguished from her mate, but is usually a very little smaller. The Lory sel dom decends to the ground, but passes the greater part of its life among the gum trees upon the pollen and nectar on which it mainly subsists. In times of scarcity, however, it will also eat grass seeds, as well as insects, for want of which it is said, it often dies pre maturely when in captivity. Dr. Russ mentions that a pair ob tained from a London dealer in 1870 for fifty dollars were the first of these birds imported, but the London Zoo logical Society had secured some of them two years before. Despite his beauty, the Blue Moun tain Lory is not a desirable bird to keep, as he requires great, care. A female which survived six years in an aviary, laying several eggs, though kept singly, was fed on canary seed, maize, a little sugar, raw beef and car rots. W. Gedney seems to have been peculiarly happy in his specimens, remarking, " But for the terribly sud den death which so often, overtakes these birds, they would be the most charming feathered pets that a lady could possess, having neither the power nor inclination to bite savagely." The same writer's recommendation to feed this Lory exclusively upon soft food, in which honey forms a great part, probably accounts for his advice to those " whose susceptible natures would be shocked " by the sudden death of their favorite, not to become the owner of a Blue Mountain Lory. Like all the parrot family these Lories breed in hollow boughs, where the female deposits from three to four white eggs, upon which she sits for twenty-one days. The young from the first resemble their parents closely, but are a trifle less brilliantly colored. They are very active and graceful, but have an abominable shriek. The noise is said to be nearly as disagree able as the plumage is beautiful. They are very quarrelsome and have to be kept apart from the other parrots, which they will kill. Other species of birds however, are not disturbed by them. It is a sort of family animosity. They have been bred in captivity. The feathers of the head and neck are long and very narrow and lie closely together ; the claws are strong and hooked, indicating their tree climbing habits. Their incessant activ ity and amusing ways make these birds always interesting to watch. 67 THE RED WING .BLACK BIRD. The Bird of Society. The blackbirds make the maples ring With social cheer and jubilee ; The redwing flutes his oka lee.— EMERSON. HE much abused and persecuted Red Wing Black Bird is found throughout North America, from the Atlantic to the Pa cific; and it breeds more or less abund antly wherever found. In New Eng land it is generally migratory, though instances are on record where a few have been known to remain through out the winter in Massachusetts. Pass ing, in January, through the lower counties of Virginia, one frequently witnesses the aerial evolutions of great numbers of these birds. Sometimes they appear as if driven about like an enormous black cloud carried before the wind, varying every moment in shape. Sometimes they rise suddenly from the fields with a noise like thun der, while the glittering of innumer able wings of the brightest vermillion, amid the black cloud, occasion a very striking effect. At times the whole congregated multitude will suddenly alight in some detached grove and commence one general concert, that can plainly be distinguished at the distance of more than two miles. With the Redwings the whole winter season seems one continued carnival. They find abundant food in the old fields of rice, buckwheat and grain, and much of their time is spent in aerial move ments, or in grand vocal performances. The Redwings, for their nest, always select either the borders of streams or j low marshy situations, amongst thick bunches of reeds. One nest was found | built on a slender sapling at the dis tance of fourteen feet from the ground. The nest was pensile, like that of the Baltimore Oriole. They have from one to three or more broods in a season, according to locality. In the grain growing states they gather in immense swarms and com mit havoc, and although they are shot in great numbers, and though their ranks are thinned by the attacks of hawks, it seems to have but little effect upon the survivors. On the other hand, these Black Birds more than compensate the farmer for their mischief by the benefit they confer in the destruction of grub worms, catterpillars, and various kinds of larvae, the secret and deadly enemies of vegetation. It has been estimated the number of insects destroyed by these birds in a single season, in the United States, to be twelve thousand millions. The eggs average about an inch in length. They are oval in shape, have alight bluish ground, and are marbled, lined and blotched with markings of light and dark purple and black. BLACKBIRD. 'Tis a woodland enchanted! By no sadder spirit Than blackbirds and thrushes, That whistle to cheer it All day in the bushes, This woodland is haunted ; And in a small clearing, Beyond sight or hearing Of human annoyance, The little fount gushes. — LOWELL. 68 RED WINGED BLACK BIRD. THE BIRD OF SOCIETY. The blackbird loves to be one of a great flock. He talks, sings or scolds from morning until night. He cannot keep still. He will only stay alone with his family a few months in the sum mer. That is the reason he is called the "Bird of Society." When he is merry, he gaily sings, " Conk-quer-ree." When he is angry or frightened he screams, " Chock ! Chock ! " When he is flying or bathing he gives a sweet note which sounds like ee-u-u. He can chirp- chick, check, chuck, to his little ones as softly as any other bird. But only his best friends ever hear his sweetest tones, for the Blackbirds do not know how to be polite. They all talk at once. That is why most people think they only scream and chatter. Did you ever hear the black birds in the cornfields? If the farmers thought about it per haps they would feel that part of every corn crop belongs to the Blackbirds. When the corn is young, the farmer cannot see the grubs which are eating the young plants. The Blackbirds can. They feed them to their babies —many thousands in a day. That is the way the crops are saved for the farmer. But he never thinks of that. Later when the Blackbirds come for their share of the corn the farmer says, "No, they shall not have my corn. I must stop that quickly." Perhaps the Black birds said the same thing to the grubs in the spring. It is hard to have justice for everyone. In April the Blackbird and his mate leave the noisy company. They seek a cosy home near the water where they can be quiet until August. They usually choose a swampy place among low shrubs and rushes. Here in the deep nest of coarse grass, moss and mud the mother bird lays her five eggs. They are very pretty — light blue with pur ple and black markings. Their friends say this is the best time to watch the blackbirds. In the flock they are all so much alike we cannot tell one from another. You would like to hear of some of the wise things Blackbirds do when they are tame. One friend of the birds turned her home into a great open bird cage. Her chair was the favor ite perch of her birds. She never kept them one minute longer than they wanted to stay. Yet her home was always full. This was Olive Thorne Miller. If you care to, you might ask mother to get " Bird Ways " and read you what she says about this " bird of society " and the other birds of this book. THE AMERICAN RED BIRD. MERICAN RED BIRDS are among our most common cage birds, and are very gen erally known in Europe, numbers of them having been carried over both to France and England. Their notes are varied and musical ; many of them resembling the j high notes of a fife, and are nearly as loud. They are in song from March to September, beginning at the first appearance of dawn and repeating successively twenty or thirty times, and with little intermission, a favorite strain. The sprightly figure and gaudy plumage of the Red Bird, his vivacity, strength of voice, and actual variety of note, and the little expense with which he is kept, will always make him a favorite. This species is more numerous to the east of the great range of the Alle- ghanies, but is found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and is numerous in the lower parts of the Southern States. In January and February they have been found along the roadsides and fences, hovering together in half dozens, associating with snow birds, and var ious kinds of sparrows. In the north ern states they are migratory, and in the southern part of Pennsylvania they reside during the whole year, frequent ing the borders of rivulets, in sheltered hollows, covered with holly, laurel, and other evergreens. They love also to reside in the vicinity of fields of Indian corn, a grain that constitutes their chief and favorite food. The seeds of apples, cherries, and other fruit are also eaten by them, and they are accused of destroying bees. Early in May the Red Bird begins to prepare his nest, which is very often fixed in a holly, cedar or laurel bush. A pair of Red Birds in Ohio returned for a number of years to build their nest in a honeysuckle vine under a portico. They were never disturbed and never failed to rear a brood of young. The nest was constructed of small twigs, dry weeds, slips of vine bark, and lined with stalks of fine grass. Four eggs of brownish olive were laid, and they usually raised two broods in a season. In confinement they fade in color, but if well cared for, will live to a con siderable age. They are generally known by the names : Red Bird, Vir ginia Red Bird, Virginia Nightingale, and Crested Red Bird. It is said that the female often sings nearly as well as the male. THE REDBIRDS. Two Redbirds came in early May, Flashing like rubies on the way ; Their joyous notes awoke the day, And made all nature glad and gay. Thrice welcome ! crested visitants ; Thou doest well to seek our haunts ; The bounteous vine, by thee possessed, From prying eyes shall keep thy nest. Sing to us in the early dawn ; 'Tis then thy scarlet throats have drawn Refreshing draughts from drops of dew, The enchanting concert to renew. No plaintive notes, we ween, are thine ; They gurgle like a royal wine ; They cheer, rejoice, they quite outshine Thy neighbor's voice, tho' it's divine. Free as the circumambient air Do thou remain, a perfect pair, To come once more when Proserpine Shall swell the buds of tree and vine. — C. C. M. 72 CHICAGO COLORTYPF CO AMERICAN RED BIRD. % Life-size. flTTBND THE BBST. CHICAGO BUSINESS COLLEGE Wabash Ave. & Randolph St. r**Si* . ?ts m • ^-i»P* ;. • • >'' _— -i*"* iJ« ^' v— • **•"" II -ff ' }— .; .. ^- — -i-~ •« PI ii» K"3:f-" • ii it ii i Elegant new building. Finer apartments than any other Commercial School in the United States. Thorough courses in BUSINESS, SHORTHAND and ENGLISH. Day and Evening Sessions. Write for o.t.l.,ue n,ail,d FREE. ^^ GONDR|Ng & mQ^ principa|8. Please mention "BIRDS when vuii write to Advertisers. WRITE FOR SAMPLES AND PRICES OF COMMENCEMENT PROGRAMS / CATALOGUES PERIODICALS EMBOSSING FINE STATIONERY SAM R. CARTER, President. GUSTAV ZEESE, Secretary. ART COLOR... DDUVTPDQ and ENGRAVERS -^-^.'^^'^^'^^ r^ MX, 11^1 1 L« rv^.5 •^^.'^^'^^^^'''k^ CHICAGO. Office and Works: 1205=1213 Roscoe Street. PAINTINGS, WATER COLORS, LITHOGRAPHS, and Articles of every description faithfully reproduced IN THEIR NATURAL COLORS. The Illustrations in this Magazine were engraved and printed by us. WHAT WE WILL SELL YOU FOR $12.00 A FEET LONG, 2 FEET 5. INCHES WIDE. Oak, Extension Slide, Finished back Quarter- sawed Sycamore Pigeon Holes, Combination Lock on Drawers. Spring Lock with two keys on Curtain. GUARANTEED PERFECT. Can not be duplicated for less than $20.00. Securely Packed and put on board cars for $12.00 and shipped C. O. D. with privilege of ex amination. THE BAKER SAFE COMPANY, \ 41 and 49 Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111. 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SEND FOR TRADE PROPOSITION. Address ANDERSON AUTOMATIC COPYING MACHINE CO, 910 Monadnock Block, CHICAGO. mention " BIKDS " when you write to Advertisers. Great Durability STEGER & CO. MANUFACTURERS COR.WABASHAVE. mir *r*f\ II I II CI A AND JACKSON STi CIIRAUUJLL.U.O. A. Please mention "BIRDS" when jou write to Advertisers. TESTIMONIALS. FRANKFORT. KY., February 3, 1897. W. J. BLACK, Vice-President, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : I have a copy of your magazine entitled " Birds,'' and beg to say that I consider it one of the finest things on the subject that I have ever seen, and shall be pleased to recommend it to county and city superintendents of the state. Very respectfully, W. J. DAVIDSON, State Superintendent Public Instruction. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 27, 1897. W. J. BLACK, ESQ., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : I am very much obliged for the copy of " Birds " that has just come to hand. It should be in the hands of every primary and grammar teacher. I send herewith copy of " List of San Francisco Teachers." Very respectfully, M. BABCOCK. LINCOLN, NEB., February 9, 1897. W. J. BLACK, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : The first number of your magazine, " Birds," is upon my desk. I am highly pleased with it. It will prove a very serviceable publication — one that strikes ouf along the right lines. For the purpose intended, it has, in my opinion, -LO equal. It is clear, concise, and admirably illustrated. Very respectfully, W. R. JACKSON, State Superintendent Public Instruction. NORTH LIMA, OHIO, February i, 1897. MR. W. E. WATT, Dear Sir : Sample copy of " Birds " received. All of the family delighted with it. We wish it unbounded success. It will be an excellent, supplement to "In Birdland " in the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, and I venture Ohio will be to the front with a good subscription list. I enclose list of teachers. Very truly, C. M. L. ALTDOERFFER, Township Superintendent. MILWAUKEE, January 30, 1897. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 227 Dearborn Street, Chicago. Gentlemen : I acknowledge with pleasure the receipt of your publication, " Birds," with accompanying circulars. I consider it the best on the subject in existence. I have submitted the circulars and publication to my teachers, who have nothing to say but praise in behalf of the monthly. JULIUS TORNEY, Principal 2nd Dist. Primary School, Milwaukee, Wis. OUR PREMIUM A picture of wonderful Pheasant almost life size in a natural scene, pkte 12x18 inches, on card 19x25 inches, is given as a premium to yearly subscribers* Our price on this picture in Art Stores is $3*50 I. 1. ILLUSTRATED BY COLORED ~~ PHOTOGPAPH>i Price 15 cents a copy— $1.50 a year. a PUBLISHED BV 1ATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY? CHICAGO FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE (Dictatecl Toy, sc ember 26, 1896. ^ E. Watt, President &c. f Fisher Building, 277 Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. My dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for a copy of the .first publication of "Birds." Please 'enter my name as a regular subscriber. It is one^of the most beautiful and interesting publications yet attempted in this direction. it has other attractions in addition to its beauty, and it must win its way to popular favor. Wishing the haridsome little magazine abundant prosperity, I remain Yours very respectfully, Staje Superintendent. A. REED & SONS PIANOS!) •v Manufactured under patents granted by the governments of the United States, England, Germany, France and Canada. A New and Scientific Method of Piano Construction FREE SOUNDING BOARD, VIBRATION BAR, STRINGS RESTING ON ALUMINUM WHEELS, ANTI- MOISTURE PIN BLOCK, LATTERAL & & PEDALS & & Grand Diploma and fledal of Honor Awarded at Columbian World's Exposition, J 893 Only American Piano receiving mention in the Official Report to the German «^t £, £, Government ^ •£ <£ A. 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Call or address, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 151 Throop St., Chicago. what would George Washington think of Mark Hanna? •+• If you want to know, read "SPIRITS OF '76," By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS, in last number of New Occasions A magazine of Reform; 96 pages; $1.00 a year; 10 cents a copy. No free sam ples, but to any one sending us 6 2-cent stamps we will mail a sample copy with several reform books ; over 300 pages in all. Agents wanted. Charles H. Kerr & Company, Publishers, 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago. Buy Only the Best Presents for Children. ; THE FINEST BLACKBOARD MADE. IMPROVED Indispensable as an element for the general education of the children. This is not a toy, but an Educator for the home. Contains Sixteen Lessons on heavy cardboard, Writing, Drawing, Marking-letters, Music, Animal Forms, etc. Frame made of oak, 4 feet high and 2 feet wide. The Board is reversible and can be used on both sides. Has a desk attachment for writing. Weighs 10 pounds, packed for shipment. Agents Wanted. Send for Agents Prices. THE VAN-BENSON COMPANY, 84 Adams Street, CHICAGO, U. S. A. Price $3.50 "ANDREWS" FURNISHES Everything for Schools Rugby School Desks, Teachers' Desks and Chairs, Blackboards, Erasers, Dustless Crayons, Globes, Maps, Charts, Apparatus, etc., etc. The Jones Model of the Earth shows the reliefs of the land surface and ocean bed, 20 inches diameter. Used by the Royal Geograph ical Society, Cornell University. Normal,and other schools of various forms and grades. The Deep Sea Globe. This new 12 in. globe shows all that is seen on the common globe, but in addition the varying depths of the ocean bed, by color shading, also 500 soundiugs by figrres. | The A. H. Andrews Co. 1 CHICAGO. (Next Auditorium) 300 WABASH AVE Also Manufactures Office, Church and Batik Furniture. Please mt'utiou "BIRDS" wheu you writ* to AUvoriiaers. LITTLE BOY BLUE. Boys and girls, don't you think that is a pretty name? I came from the warm south, where I went last winter, to tell you that Springtime is nearly here. When I sing, the buds and flowers and grass all begin to whisper to one another, "Spring- time is coming for we heard the Bluebird say so," and then they peep out to see the warm sun shine. I perch beside them and tell them of my long journey from the south and how I knew just when to tell them to come out of their warm winter cradles. I am of the same blue color as the violet that shows her pretty face when I sing, "Summer is coming, and Springtime is here." I do not like the cities for they are black and noisy and full of those troublesome birds called English Sparrows. I take my pretty mate and out in the beautiful country we find a home. We build a nest of twigs, grass and hair, in a box that the farmer puts up for us near his barn. Sometimes we build in a hole in some old tree and soon there are tiny eggs in the nest. I sing to my mate and to the good people who own the barn. J heard the farmer say one day, " Isn't it nice to hear the Blue bird sing ? He must be very happy." And I am, too, for by this time there are four or five little ones in the nest. Little Bluebirds are like little boys — they are always hungry. We work hard to find enough for them to eat. We feed them nice fat worms and bugs, and when their little wings are strong enough, we teach them how to fly. Soon they are large enough to hunt their own food, and can take care of themselves. The summer passes, and when we feel the breath of winter \ve go south again, for we do not like the cold. THE BLUEBIRD. I know the song that the Bluebird is singing Out in the apple tree, where he is swinging. Brave little fellow! the skies may be dreary, Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery. Hark! how the music leaps out from his throat, Hark ! was there ever so merry a note? Listen a while, and you'll hear what he's saying, Up in the apple tree swinging and swaying. "Dear little blossoms down under the snow, You must be weary of winter, I know ; Hark! while I sing you a message of cheer, Summer is coming, and springtime is here!" "Dear little snow-drop ! I pray you arise ; Bright yellow crocus! come open your eyes ; Sweet little violets, hid from the cold, Put on our mantles of purple and gold ; Daffodils ! daffodils ! say, do you hear, Summer is coming ! and springtime is here!" 75 THE BLUE BIRD. Winged lute that we call a blue bird, You blend in a silver strain The sound of the laughing waters, The patter of spring's sweet rain, The voice of the wind, the sunshine, And fragrance of blossoming things, Ah ! you are a poem of April That God endowed with wings. E. E. R. I IKE a bit of sky this little harbinger of spring appears, as we see uim and his mate ^househunting in early March. Oftentimes he makes his appearance as • early as the middle of February, when his attrac tive note is heard long before he him self is seen. He is one of the last to leave us, and although the month of November is usually chosen by him as the fitting time for departure to a milder clime, his plaintive note is quite commonly heard on pleasant days throughout the winter season, and a few of the braver and hardier ones never entirely desert us. The Robin and the Blue Bird are tenderly associated in the memories of most persons whose childhood was passed on a farm or in the country village. Before the advent of the English Sparrow, the Blue Bird was sure to be the first to occupy and the last to de fend the little box prepared for his re turn, appearing in his blue jacket somewhat in advance of the plainly habited female, who on her arrival quite often found a habitation selected and ready for her acceptance, should he find favor in her sight. And then he becomes a most devoted husband and father, sitting by the nest and warbling with earnest affection his exquisite tune, and occasionally fly ing away in search of food for his mate and nestlings. The Blue Bird rears two broods in the season, and, should the weather be mild, even three. His nest contains three eggs. In the spring and summer when he is happy and gay, his song is ex tremely soft and agreeable, while it grows very mournful and plaintive as cold weather approaches. He is mild of temper, and a peaceable and harm less neighbor, setting a fine example of amiability to his feathered friends. In the early spring, however, he wages war against robins, wrens, swallows, and other birds whose habitations are of a kind to take his fancy. A cele brated naturalist says : " This bird seems incapable of uttering a harsh note, or of doing a spiteful, ill-temp ered thing." Nearly everybody has his anecdote to tell of the Blue Bird's courage, but the author of "Wake Robin" tells his exquisitely thus : " A few years ago I put up a little bird house in the back end of my garden for the accom modation of the wrens, and every season a pair have taken up their abode there. One spring a pair of Blue Birds looked into the tenement, and lingered about several days, lead ing me to hope that they would con clude to occupy it. But they finally went away. Late in the season the wrens appeared, and after a little co quetting, were regularly installed in their old quarters, and were as happy as only wrens can be. But before their honeymoon was over, the Blue Birds returned. I knew something was wrong before I was up in the morning. Instead of "that voluble and gushing song outside the window, I heard the wrens scolding and crying out at a fearful rate, and on going out saw the Blue Birds in possession of the box. The poor wrens were in despair and were forced to look for other quarters." THE SWALLOW. "Come, summer visitant, attach To my reedroof thy nest of clay, And let my ear thy music catch, Low twitting underneath the thatch, At the gray dawn of day." URE harbingers of spring are the Swallows. They are very common birds, and frequent, as a rule, the cultivated lands in the neighborhood of water, showing a de cided preference for the habitations of man. " How gracefully the swallows fly! See them coursing over the daisy-bespangled grass fields ; now they skim just over the blades of grass, and then with a rapid stroke of their long wings mount into the air and come hovering above your head, dis playing their rich white and chestnut plumage to perfection. Now they chase each other for very joyfulness, uttering their sharp twittering notes ; then they hover with expanded wings like miniature Kestrels, or dart down wards with the velocity of the spar- rowhawk ; anon they flit rapidly over the neighboring pool, occasionally dipping themselves in its calm and placid waters, and leaving a long train of rings marking their varied course. How easily they turn, or glide over the surrounding hedges, never resting, never weary, and defying the eye to trace them in the infinite turnings and twistings of their rapid shooting flight. You frequently see them glide rapidly near the ground, and then with a side long motion mount aloft, to dart downwards like an animated meteor, their plumage glowing in the light with metallic splendor, and the row of white spots on the tail contrasting beautifully with the darker plumage." The Swallow is considered a life- paired species, and returns to its nest ing site of the previous season, build ing a new nest close to the old one. His nest is found in barns and out houses, upon the beams of wood which support the roof, or in any place which assures protection to the young birds. It is cup -shaped and artfully .moulded of bits of mud. Grass and feathers are used for the lining. " The nest completed, five or six eggs are deposited. They are of a pure white color, with deep rich brown blotches and spots, notably at the larger end, round which they often form a zone or belt." The sit ting bird is fed by her mate. The young Swallow is disting uished from the mature birds by the absence of the elongated tail feathers, which are a mark of maturity alone. His food is composed entirely of in sects. Swallows are on the wing fully sixteen hours, and the greater part of the time making terrible havoc amongst the millions of insects which infest the air. It is said that when the Swallow is seen flying high in the heavens, it is a never failing indica tion of fine weather. A pair of Swallows on arriving at their nesting place of the preceding Summer found their nest occupied by a Sparrow, who kept the poor birds at a distance by pecking at them with his strong beak whenever they at tempted to dislodge him Wearied and hopeless of regaining possession of their property, they at last hit upon a plan which effectually punished the intruder. One morning they appeared with a few more Swallows — their mouths filled with a supply of tem pered clay — and, by their joint efforts in a short time actually plastered up the entrance to the hole, thus barring the Sparrow from the home which he had stolen from the Swallows. 79 THE BROWN THRUSH. " However the world goes ill, The Thrushes still sing in it." HE Mocking-bird of the North, as the Brown Thrush has been called, arrives in the Eastern and Middle States about the loth of May, at which season he may be seen, perched on the highest twig of a hedge, or on the topmost branch of a tree, singing his loud and welcome song, that may be heard a distance of half a mile. The favorite haunt of the Brown Thrush, however, is amongst the bright and glossy foliage of the evergreens. " There they delight to hide, although not so shy and retiring as the Black bird ; there they build their nests in greatest numbers, amongst the peren nial foliage, and there they draw at nightfall to repose in warmth and safety." The Brown Thrasher sings chiefly just after sunrise and before sunset, but may be heard singing at intervals during the day. His food consists of wild fruits, such as black berries and raspberries, snails, worms, slugs and grubs. He also obtains much of his food amongst the with ered leaves and marshy places of the woods and shrubberies which he frequents. Few birds possess a more varied melody. His notes are almost endless in variety, each note seemingly uttered at the caprice of the bird, without any perceptible approach to order. The site of the Thrush's nest is a varied one, in the hedgerows, under a fallen tree or fence-rail; far up in the branches of stately trees, or amongst the ivy growing up their trunks. The nest is composed of the small dead twigs of trees, lined with the fine fibers of roots. From three to five eggs are deposited, and are hatched in about twelve days. They have a greenish background, thickly spotted with light brown, giving the whole egg a brownish appearance. The Brown Thrush leaves the East ern and Middle States, on his migra tion South, late in September, remain ing until the following May. THE THRUSH'S NEST. "Within a thick and spreading hawthorn bush That overhung a molehill, large and round, I heard from morn to morn a merry thrush Sing hymns of rapture while I drank the sound With joy — and oft an unintruding guest, I watched her secret toils from day to day ; How true she warped the moss to form her nest, And modeled it within with wood and clay. And by and by, with heath-bells gilt with dew, There lay her shining eggs as bright as flowers, Ink-spotted over, shells of green and blue : And there I witnessed, in the summer hours, A brood of nature's minstrels chirp and fly, Glad as the sunshine and the laughing sky." 82 THE BROWN THRUSH. Dear Readers : My cousin Robin Redbreast told me that he wrote you a letter last month and sent it with his picture. How did you like it? He is a pretty bird- Cousin Robin — and everybody likes him. But I must tell you something of myself. Folks call me by different names — some of them nick names, too. The cutest one of all is Brown Thrasher. I wonder if you know why they call me Thrasher. If you don't, ask some one. It is really funny. Some people think Cousin Robin is the sweetest singer of our family, but a great many like my song just as well. Early in the morning I sing among the bushes, but later in the day you will always find me in the very top of a tree and it is then I sing my best. Do you know what I say in my song ? Well, if I am near a farmer while he is planting, I say: "Drop it, drop it — cover it up, cover it up — pull it up, pull it up, pull it up.'1 One thing I very seldom do and that is, sing when near my nest. Maybe you can tell why. I'm not very far from my nest now. I just came down to the stream to get a drink and am watching that boy on the other side of the stream. Do you see him ? One dear lady who loves birds has said some very nice things about me in a book called "Bird Ways." Another lady has written a beautiful poem about my singing. Ask your mamma or teacher the names of these ladies. Here is the poem: VI /HERE'S a merry brown thrush sitting up in a tree. He is singing to me ! He is singing to me ! And what does he say — little girl, little boy ? "Oh, the world's running over with joy! Hush ! Look ! In my tree, I am as happy as happy can be." And the brown thrush keeps singing, "A nest, do you see, And five eggs, hid by me in the big cherry tree ? Don't meddle, don't touch — little girl, little boy — Or the world will lose some of its joy ! Now I am glad ! now I am free ! And I always shall be, If you never bring sorrow to me." So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree To you and to me — to you and to me ; And he sings all the day — little girl, little boy— " Oh, the world's running over with joy ! But long it won't be, Don't you know? don't you see? Unless we're good as good can be." 83 - THE JAPAN PHEASANT. RIGINALLY the Pheasant was an inhabitant of Asia Minor but has been by de grees introduced into many countries, where its beauty of form, plumage, and the delicacy of its flesh made it a welcome visitor. The Japan Pheasant is a very beauti ful species, about which little is known in its wild state, but in cap tivity it is pugnacious. It requires much shelter and plenty of food, and the breed is to some degree artificially kept up by the hatching of eggs un der domestic hens and feeding them in the coop like ordinary chickens, until they are old and strong enough to get their own living. The food of this bird is extremely varied. When young it is gener- erally fed on ants' eggs, maggots, grits, and similar food, but when it is full grown it is possessed of an accom modating appetite and will eat many kinds of seeds, roots, and leaves. It will also eat beans, peas, acorns, ber ries, and has even been known to eat the ivy leaf, as well as the berry. This Pheasant loves the ground, runs with great speed, and always pre fers to trust to its legs rather than to its wings. It is crafty, and when alarmed it slips quickly out of sight behind a bush or through a hedge, and then runs away with astonishing rapidity, always remaining under cover until it reaches some spot where it deems it self safe. The male is not domestic, passing an independent life during a part of the year and associating with others of its own sex during the rest of the season. The nest is very rude, being merely a heap of leaves and grass on the ground, with a very slight depression. The eggs are numerous, about eleven or twelve, and olive brown in color. In total length, though they vary consid erably, the full grown male is about three feet. The female is smaller in size than her mate, and her length a foot less. The Japan Pheasant is not a partic ularly interesting bird aside from his beauty, which is indeed brilliant, there being few of the species more attractive. 88 THE FLICKER. GREAT variety of names does this bird possess. It is commonly known as the Golden Winged Wood pecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Yellow Hammer, and less often as High-hole or High-holer, Wake-up, etc. In suit able localities throughout the United States and the southern parts of Can ada, the Flicker is a very common bird, and few species are more gener ally known. "It is one of the most sociable of our Woodpeckers, and is apparently always on good terms with its neighbors. It usually arrives in April, occasionally even in March, the males preceding the females a few days, and as soon as the latter appear one can hear their voices in all direc tions." The Flicker is an ardent wooer. It is an exceedingly interesting and amusing sight to see a couple of males paying their addresses to a coy and coquettish female ; the apparent shy ness of the suitors as they sidle up to her and as quickly retreat again, the shy glances given as one peeps from behind a limb watching the other — playing bo-peep — seem very human, and "I have seen," says an observer, " few more amusing performances than the courtship of a pair of these birds." The defeated suitor takes his rejection quite philosophically, and retreats in a dignified manner, probably to make other trials elsewhere. Few birds deserve our good will more than the Flicker. He is exceedingly useful, destroying multitudes of grubs, larvae, and worms. He loves berries and fruit but the damage he does to culti vated fruit is very trifling. The Flicker begins to build its nest about two weeks after the bird arrives from the south. It prefers open coun try, interspersed with groves and orch ards, to nest in. Any old stump, or partly decayed limb of a tree, along the banks of a creek, beside a country road, or in an old orchard, will answer the purpose. Soft wood trees seem to be preferred, however. In the prairie states it occasionally selects strange nesting sites. It has been known to chisel through the weather boarding of a dwelling house, barns,and other build ings, and to nest in the hollow space between this and the cross beams ; its nests have also been found in gate posts, in church towers, and in burrows of Kingfishers and bank swallows, in perpendicular banks of streams. One of the most peculiar sites of his selec tion is described by William A. Bry ant as follows: " On a small hill, a quarter of a mile distant from any home, stood a hay stack which had been placed there two years previously. The owner, during the winter of 1889-90, had cut the stack through the middle and hauled away one portion, leaving the other standing, with the end smoothly trimmed. The following spring I noticed a pair of flickers about the stack showing signs of wanting to make it a fixed habitation. One morn ing a few days later I was amused at the efforts of one of the pair. It was clinging to the perpendicular end of the stack and throwing out clipped hay at a rate to defy competition. This work continued for a week, and in that time the pair had excavated a cavity twenty inches in depth. They remained in the vicinity until autumn. During the winter the remainder of the stack was removed. They re turned the following spring, and, after a brief sojourn, departed for parts un known." From five to nine eggs are generally laid. They are glossy white in color, and when fresh appear as if enameled. The young are able to leave the nest in about sixteen days ; they crawl about on the limbs of the tree for a couple of days before they venture to fly, and return to the nest at night. 89 THE BOBOLINK. '•When Nature had made all her birds, And had no cares to think on, She gave a rippling laugh, And out there flew a Bobolinkon." LO American ornithologist omits mention of the Bobo link, and naturalists gener ally have described him under one of the many names by which he is known. In some States he is called the Rice Bird, in others Reed Bird, the Rice or Reed Bunting, while his more familiar title, throughout the greater part of America, is Bobolink, or Bobolinkum. In Jamaica, where he gets very fat during his winter stay, he is called the Butter Bird. His title of Rice Troopial is earned by the depredations which he annually makes upon the rice crops, though his food " is by no means restricted to that seed, but con sists in a large degree of insects, grubs, and various wild grasses." A migra tory bird, residing during the winter in the southern parts of America, he returns in vast multitudes northward in the early Spring. According to Wilson, their course of migration is as follows: " In April, or very early in May, the Rice Buntings, male and female, arrive within the southern boundaries of the United States, and are seen around the town of Savan nah, Georgia, sometimes in separate parties of males and females, but more generally promiscuously. They remain there but a short time, and about the middle of May make their appearance in the lower part of Pennsylvania. While here the males are extremely gay and full of song, frequenting meadows, newly plowed fields, sides of creeks, rivers, and watery places, feeding on May flies and caterpillars, of which they des troy great quantities. In their passage, however, through Virginia at this sea son, they do great damage to the early wheat and barley while in their milky state. About the aoth of May they disappear on their way to the North. Nearly at the same time they arrive in the State of New York, spread over the whole of the New England States, as far as the river St. L,aw- rence, and from Lake Ontario to the sea. In all of these places they re main during the Summer, building their nests and rearing their young." The Bobolink's song is a peculiar one, varying greatly with the occa sion. As he flys southward, his cry is a kind of clinking note ; but the love song addressed to his mate is voluble and fervent. It has been said that if you should strike the keys of a piano forte haphazard, the higher and the lower singly very quickly, you might have some idea of the Bobolink's notes. In the month of June he gradually changes his pretty, attrac tive dress and puts on one very like the females, which is of a plain rusty brown, and is not reassumed until the next season of nesting. The two par ent birds in the plate represent the change from the dark plumage in which the bird is commonly known in the North as the Bobolink, to the dress of yellowish brown by which it is known throughout the South as the Rice or Reed Bird. His nest, small and a plain one, too, is built on the ground by his industri ous little wife. The inside is warmly lined with soft fibers of whatever may be nearest at hand. Five pretty white eggs, spotted all over with brown are laid, and as soon " As the little ones chip the shell And five wide mouths are ready for food, ' Robert of Lincoln ' bestirs him well, Gathering seeds for this hungry brood." 92 BOBOLINK. Other birds may like to travel alone, but when jolly Mr. Bobo link and his quiet little wife come from the South, where they have spent the winter, they come with a large party of friends. When South, they eat so much rice that the people call them Rice Birds. When they come North, they enjoy eating wheat, barley, oats and insects. Mr. and Mrs. Bobolink build their simple little nest of grasses in some field. It is hard to find on the ground, for it looks just like dry grass. Mrs. Bobolink wears a dull dress, so she cannot be seen when she is sitting on the precious eggs. She does not sing a note while caring for the eggs. Why do you think that is ? Mr. Bob-Linkum does not wear a sober dress, as you can see by his picture. He does not need to be hidden. He is just as jolly as he looks. Shall I tell you how he amuses his mate while she is sitting? He springs from the dew-wet grass with a sound like peals of merry laugh ter. He frolics from reed to post, singing as if his little heart would burst with joy. Don't you think Mr. and Mrs. Bobolink look happy in the picture? They have raised their family of five. Four of their children have gone to look for food ; one of them — he must surely be the baby — would rather stay with his mamma and papa. Which one does he look like? Many birds are quiet at noon and in the afternoon. A flock of Bobolinks can be heard sing ing almost all day long. The song is full of high notes and low, soft notes and loud, all sung rapidly. It is as gay and bright as the birds themselves, who flit about playfully as they sing. You will feel like laugh ing as merrily as they sing when you hear it some day. 93 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The birds used in preparing oar plates were obtained from the Chicago Academy of Sciences and from the private collection of F. M. Woodruff, the Ornithologist of the Academy. We desire to express our appreciation of the courtesies extended to us by them. Mr. Woodruff has one of the finest, if not the finest collection, of Home Birds that it has been our privilege to see. THE BLUE BIRD. " Drifting down the first warm wind That thrills the earliest days of spring, The Bluebird seeks our maple groves And charms them into tasselling." " He sings, and his is Nature's voice — A gush of melody sincere From that great fount of harmony Which thaws and runs when Spring is here. " Short is his song, but strangely sweet To ears aweary of the low Dull tramps of Winter's sullen feet, Sandalled in ice and mumed in snow." " Think, every morning, when the sun peeps through The dim, leaf-latticed windows of the grove, How jubilant the happy birds renew Their old, melodious madrigals of love ! And when you think of this, remember, too, 'Tis always morning somewhere, and above The awakening continents, from shore to shore, Somewhere the birds are singing evermore. " Think of your woods and orchards without birds ! Of empty nests that cling to boughs and beams As in an idiot's brain remembered words Hang empty 'mid the cobwebs of his dreams ! Will bleat of flocks or bellowing of herds Make up for the lost music, when your teams Drag home the stingy harvest, and no more The feathered gleaners follow to your door?" FROM "THE BIRDS OF KH,UNGSWORTH. 96 THE CROW. Caw! Caw! Caw! little boys and girls. Caw! Caw! Caw. Just look at my coat of feathers. See how black and glossy it is. Do you wonder I am proud of it ? Perhaps you think I look very solemn and wise, and not at all as if I cared to play games. I do, though ; and one of the games I like best is hide-and- seek. I play it with the farmer in the spring. He hides, in the rich, brown earth, golden kernels of corn. Surely he does it be cause he knows I like it, for sometimes he puts up a stick all dressed like a man to show where the corn is hidden. Some times I push my bill down into the earth to find the corn, and at other times I wait until tiny green leaves begin to show above the ground, and then I get my breakfast without much trouble. I wonder if the farmer enjoys this game as much as I do. I help him, too, by eating worms .and insects. During the spring and sum mer I live in my nest on the top of a very high tree. It is built of sticks and grasses and straw and string and anything else I can pick up. But in the fall, I and all my relations and friends live. together in great roosts or rookeries. What good times we do have — hunting all day for food and talking all night. Wouldn't you like to be with us ? The farmer who lives in the house over there went to the mill to-day with a load of corn. One of the ears dropped out of the wagon and it didn't take me long to find it. I have eaten all I can possibly hold and am wondering now what is the best thing to do. If you were in my place would you leave it here and not tell anybody and come back to-morrow and finish it? Or would you fly off and get Mrs. Crow and some of the children to come and finish it? I believe I'll fly and get them. Goodbye. Caw! Caw! Caw! 97 THE COMMON CROW. 'The crow doth sing as merry as the lark, When neither is attended." •"EW birds have more interesting characteristics than the Com mon Crow, being, in many of his actions, very like the Raven, especially in his love for carrion. Like the Raven, he has been known to attack game, although his inferior size forces him to call to his assistance the aid of his fellows to cope with larger creatures. Rabbits and hares are frequently the prey of this bird which pounces on them as they steal abroad to feed. His food consists of reptiles, frogs, and lizards ; he is a plunderer of other birds' nests. On the seashore he finds crabs, shrimps and inhabited shells, which he ingeniously cracks by flying with them to a great height and letting them fall upon a convenient rock. The crow is seen in single pairs or in little bands of four or five. In the autumn evenings, however, they assemble in considerable flocks before going to roost and make a wonderful chattering, as if comparing notes of the events of the day. The nest of the Crow is placed in some tree remote from habitations of other birds. Although large and very conspicuous at a distance, it is fixed upon one of the topmost branches quite out of reach of the hand of the adventurous urchin who longs to secure its contents. It is loosely made and saucer shaped. Sticks and softer substances are used to construct it, and it is lined with hair and fibrous roots. Very recently a thrifty and intelligent Crow built for itself a summer residence in an airy tree near Bombay, the material used being gold, silver, and steel spectacle frames, which the bird had stolen from an optician of that city. Eighty-four frames had been used for this purpose, and they were so ingeniously woven together that the nest was quite a work of art. The eggs are variable, or rather individual, in their markings, and even in their size. The Crow rarely uses the same nest twice, although he frequently repairs to the same locality from year to year. He is remarkable for his attachment to his mate and young, surpassing the Fawn and Turtle Dove in conjugal courtesy. The Somali Arabs bear a deadly hatred toward the Crow. The origin of their detestation is the superstition that during the flight of Mohammed from his enemies, he hid himself in a cave, where he was perceived by the Crow, at that time a bird of light plumage, who, when he saw the pur suers approaching the spot, perched above Mohammed's hiding place, and screamed, "Ghar! Ghar!" (cave! cave!) so as to indicate the place of conceal ment. His enemies, however, did not understand the bird, and passed on, and Mohammed, when he came out of the cave, clothed the Crow in per petual black, and commanded him to cry "Ghar" as long as Crows should live. And he lives to a good old age. Instances are not rare where he has attained to half a century, without great loss of activity or failure of sight. At Red Bank, a few miles northeast of Cincinnati, on the Little Miami River, in the bottoms, large flocks of Crows congregate the year around. A few miles away, high upon Walnut Hills, is a Crow roost, and in the late afternoons the Crows, singly, in pairs, and in flocks, are seen on the wing, flying heavily, with full crops, on the way to the roost, from which they descend in the early morning, crying "Caw! Caw!" to the fields of the newly planted, growing, or matured corn, or corn stacks, as the season may provide. THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. "Everywhere the blue sky belongs to them and is their appointed rest, and their native country, and their own natural home which they enter unannounced as lords that are certainly expected, and yet there is a silent joy at their arrival/ ' HE return of the birds to their real home in the North, where they build their nests and rear their young, is regarded by all genuine lovers of earth's mes sengers of gladness and gayety as one of the most interesting and poetical of annual occurrences. The naturalist, who notes the very day of each arrival, in order that he may verify former observation or add to his material gathered for a new work, does not necessarily anticipate with greater pleasure this event than do many whose lives are brightened by the coming of the friends of their youth, who alone of early companions do not change. First of all — and ever the same delightful warbler — the Blue bird, who, in 1895, did not appear at all in many localities, though here in considerable numbers last year, betrays himself. "Did he come down out of the heaven on that bright March morning when he told us so softly and plaintively that, if we pleased, spring had come?" Sometimes he is here a little earlier, and must keep his courage up until the cold snap is over and the snow is gone. Not long after the Bluebird, comes the Robin, some times in March, but in most of the northern states April is the month of his arrival. With his first utterance the spell of winter is broken, and the remembrance of it afar off. Then appears the Woodpecker in great variety, the Flicker usually arriving first. He is always somebody's old favorite, ''announcing his arrival by a long, loud call, repeated from the dry branch of some tree, or a stake in the fence — a thoroughly melodious April sound." Few perhaps reflect upon the diffi culties encountered by the birds them selves in their returning migrations. A voyager sometimes meets with many of our common birds far out at sea. Such wanderers, it is said, when suddenly overtaken by a fog, com pletely lose their sense of direction and become hopelessly lost. Humming birds, those delicately organized, glittering gems, are among the most common of the land species seen at sea. The present season has been quite favorable to the protection of birds. A very competent observer says that not all of the birds migrated this winter. He recently visited a farm less than an hour's ride from Chicago, where he found the old place, as he relates it, " chucked full of Robins, Blackbirds, and Woodpeckers," and others unknown to him. From this he inferred they would have been in Florida had indications predicted a severe winter. The trees of the south parks of Chicago, and those in suburban places, have had, darting through their branches during the months of December and January, nearly as many members of the Wood pecker tribe as were found there during the mating season in May last. Alas, that the Robin will visit us in diminished numbers in the approach ing spring. He has not been so com mon for a year or two as he was formerly, for the reason that the Robins died by thousands of starvation, owing to the freezing of their food supply in Tennessee during the pro tracted cold weather in the winter of 1895. It is indeed sad that this good Samaritan among birds should be defenseless against the severity of Nature, the common mother of us all. Nevertheless the return of the birds, in myriads or in single pairs, will be welcomed more and more, year by year, as intelligent love and apprecia tion of them shall possess the popular mind. THE BLACK TERN. HE TERN," says Mr. F. M. Woodruff, of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, "is the only representative of the long-winged swimmers which commonly nests with us on our inland fresh water marshes, arriving early in May in its brooding plumage of sooty black. The color changes in the autumn to white, and a number of the adult birds may be found, in the latter part of July, dotted and streaked here and there with white. On the first of June, 1891, I found a large colony of Black Terns nesting on Hyde Lake, Cook County, Illinois. As I approached the marsh a few birds were seen flying high in the air, and, as I n eared the nesting site, the flying birds gave notes of alarm, and presently the air was filled with the graceful forms of this beautful little bird. They circled about me, darting down to within a few feet of my head, constantly uttering a harsh, screaming cry. As the eggs are laid upon the bare ground, which the brownish and blackish markings so closely resemble, I was at first unable to find the nests, and discovered that the only way to locate them was to stand quietly and watch the birds. When the Tern is passing over the nest it checks its flight, and poises for a moment on quivering wings. By keeping my eyes on this spot I found the nest with very little trouble. The comple ment of eggs, when the bird has not been disturbed, is usually three. These are laid in a saucer shaped structure of dead vegetation, which is scraped together, from the surface of the wet, boggy ground. The bird figured in the plate had placed its nest on the edge of an old muskrat house, and my attention was attracted to it by the fact that upon the edge of the rat house, where it had climbed to rest itself, was the body of a young dabchick, or piedbilled grebe, scarcely two and one-half inches long, and not twenty-four hours out of the egg, a beautiful little ball of blackish down, striped with brown and white. From the latter part of July to the middle of August large flocks of Black Terns may be seen on the shores of our larger lakes on their annual migration southward." The Rev. P. B. Peabody, in alluding to his observation of the nests of the Tern, says: "Amid this floating sea of aquatic nests I saw an unusual number of well constructed homes of the Tern. Among these was one that I count a perfect nest. It rested on the perfectly flat foundation of a small decayed rat house, which was about fourteen inches in diameter. The nest, in form, is a truncated cone (barring the cavity), was about eight inches high and ten inches in diameter. The hollow — quite shallow — was about seven inches across, being thus un usually large. The whole was built up of bits of rushes, carried to the spot, these being quite uniform in length — about four inches." After daily observation of the Tern, during which time he added much to his knowledge of the bird, he pertinently asks: " Who shall say how many traits and habits yet unknown may be discovered through patient watching of com munity-breeding birds, by men enjoy ing more of leisure for such delightful studies than often falls to the lot of most of us who have bread and butter to earn and a tiny part of the world's work to finish?" 104 THE MEADOW LARK, "Not an inch of his body is free from delight. Can he keep himself still if he would ? Oh, not he ! The music stirs in him like wind through a tree. HE well known Meadow or ^ I Old Field Lark is a con- Q) I stant resident south of lati tude 39, and many winter farther north in favorite localities. Its geographical range is eastern North America, Canada to south Nova Scota, Quebec, and Ontario to eastern Manitoba ; west to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Kansas, the Indian Territory, and Texas ; south to Florida and the Gulf coast, in all of which localities, except in the extreme north, it usually rears two or three broods in a season. In the Northern States it is only a summer resident, arriving in April and remaining until the latter part of October and occasionally November. Excepting during the breeding season, small flocks may often be seen roving about in search of good feeding grounds. Major Ben- dire says this is especially true in the fall of the year. At this time several families unite, and as many as two dozen may occasionally be flushed in a field, over which they scatter, roam ing about independently of each other. When one takes wing all the others in the vicinity follow. It is a shy bird in the East, while in the middle states it is quite the reverse. Its flight is rather laborious, at least in starting, and is continued by a series of rapid movements of the wings, alternating with short distances of sailing, and is rarely protracted. On alighting, which is accompanied with a twitching of its tail, it usually settles on some fence rail, post, boudler, weedstock, or on a hillock in a meadow from which it can get a good view of the surround ings, and but rarely on a limb of a tree. Its favorite resorts are meadows, fallow fields, pastures, and clearings, but in some sections, as in northern Florida,for instance,it also frequents the low, open pine woods and nests there. The song of the Meadow Lark is not much varied, but its clear, whist ling notes, so frequently heard in the early spring, are melodious and pleas ing to the ear. It is decidedly the farmers' friend, feeding, as it does, on noxious insects, caterpillers, moths, grasshoppers, spiders, worms and the like, and eating but little grain. The lark spends the greater part of its time on the ground, procuring all its food there. It is seldom found alone, and it is said remains paired for life. Nesting begins in the early part of May and lasts through June. Both sexes assist in building the nest, which is always placed on the ground, either in a natural depression, or in a little hollow scratched out by the birds, alongside a bunch of grass or weeds. The nest itself is lined with dry grass, stubble, and sometimes pine needles. Most nests are placed in level meadows. The eggs and young are frequently destroyed by vermin, for the meadow lark has many enemies. The eggs vary from three to seven, five being the most common, and both sexes as sist in the hatching, which requires about fifteen or sixteen days. The young leave the nest before they are able to fly — hiding at the slightest sign of danger. The Meadow Lark does not migrate beyond the United States. It is a native bird, and is only accidental in England. The eggs are spotted, blotched, and speckled with shades of brown, purple and lavender. A curious incident is told of a Meadow Lark trying to alight on the top mast of a schooner several miles at sea. It was evidently very tired but would not venture near the deck. 105 THE MEADOW LARK. I told the man who wanted my picture that he could take it if he would show my nest and eggs. Do you blame me for saying so? Don't you think it makes a better picture than if I stood alone? Mr. Lark is away getting me some breakfast, or he could be in the picture, too. After a few days I shall have some little baby birds, and then won't we be happy. Boys and girls who live in the country know us pretty well. When they drive the cows out to pasture, or when they go out to gather wild flowers, we sit on the fences by the roadside and make them glad with our merry song. Those of you who live in the city cannot see us unless you come out into the country. It isn't very often that we can find such a pretty place for a nest as we have here. Most of the time we build our nest under the grass and cover it over, and build a little tunnel leading to it. This year we made up our minds not to be afraid. The people living in the houses over there do not bother us at all and we are so happy. You never saw baby larks, did you? Well, they are queer little fellows, with hardly any feathers on them. Last summer we had five little birdies to feed, and it kept us busy from morning till night. This year we only expect three, and Mr. Lark says he will do all the work. He knows a field that is being plowed, where he can get nice, large worms. Hark! that is he singing. He will be surprised when he comes back and finds me off the nest. He is so afraid that I will let the eggs get cold, but I won't. There he comes, now. 108 THE LONG-EARED OWL. HE name of the Long-Eared Owl is derived from ~the great length of his "ears" or feather- tufts, which are placed upon the head, and erect themselves when ever the bird is interested or excited. It is the " black sheep " of the owl family, the majority of owls being genuine friends of the agriculturist, catching for his larder so many of the small animals that prey upon his crops. In America he is called the Great Horned Owl — in Europe the Golden Owl. Nesting time with the owl begins in February, and continues through March and April. The clown-like antics of both sexes of this bird while under the tender influence of the nesting season tend somewhat to im pair their reputation for dignity and wise demeanor. They usually have a simple nest in a hollow tree, but which seems seldom to be built by the bird itself, as it prefers to take the deserted nest of some other bird, and to fit up the premises for its own use. They repair slightly from year to year the same nest. The eggs are white, and generally four or five in number. While the young are still in the nest, the parent birds display a singular diligence in collecting food for them. If you should happen to know of an owl's nest, stand near it some evening when the eld birds are rearing their young. Keep quiet and motionless, and notice how frequently the old birds feed them. Every ten minutes or so the soft flap, flap of their wings will be heard, the male and female alternately, and you will obtain a brief glimpse of them through the gloom as they enter the nesting place. They remain inside but a short time, sharing the food equally amongst their brood, and then are off again to hunt for more. All night, were you. to have the inclination to observe them, you would find they pass to and fro with food, only ceasing their labors at dawn. The young, as soon as they reach maturity, are abandoned by their parents; they quit the nest and seek out haunts elsewhere, while the old birds rear another, and not infrequently two more broods, during the remainder of the season. The habits of the Long-Eared Owl are nocturnal. He is seldom seen in the light of day, and is greatly dis turbed if he chance to issue from his concealment while the sun is above the horizon. The facial disk is very conspicuous in this species. It is said that the use of this circle is to collect the rays of light, and throw them upon the eye. The flight of the owl is softened by means of especially shaped, recurved feather-tips, so that he maj' noiselessly steal upon his prey, and the ear is also so shaped as to gather sounds from below. The Long - Eared Owl is hardly tamable. The writer of this para graph, when a boy, was the possessor, for more than a year, of a very fine specimen. We called him Judge. He was a monster, and of perfect plumage. Although he seemed to have some attachment to the children of the family who fed him, he would not permit himself to be handled by them or by any one in the slightest. Most of his time he spent in his cage, an immense affair, in which he was very, comfortable. Occasionally he had a day in the barn with the rats and mice. The owl is of great usefulness to gardener, agriculturist, and landowner alike, for there is not another bird of prey which is so great a destroyer of the enemies of vegetation. 109 GREAT HORNED OWL. ZA Life-size. CHICAGO COLORTVPE C THE OWL. We know not alway Who are kings by day, But the king of the night is the bold brown owl! I wonder why the folks put my picture last in the book. It can't be because they don't like me, for I'm sure I never bother them. I don't eat the farmer's corn like the crow, and no one ever saw me quarrel with other birds. Maybe it is because I can't sing. Well, there are lots of good people that can't sing, and so there are lots of good birds that can't sing. Did you ever see any other bird sit up as straight -as I do? I couldn't sit up so straight if I hadn't such long, sharp claws to hold on with. My home is in the woods. Here we owls build our nests- most always in hollow trees. During the day I stay in the nest or sit on a limb. I don't like day time for the light hurts my eyes, but when it begins to grow dark then I like to stir around. All night long I am wide awake and fly about getting food for my little hungry ones. They sleep most of the day and it keeps me busy nearly all night to find them enough to eat. I just finished my night's work when the man came to take my picture. It was getting light and I told him to go to a large stump on the edge of the woods and I would sit for my picture. So here I am. Don't you think I look wise? How do you like my large eyes ? If I could smile at you I would, but my face always looks sober. I have a great many cousins and if you really like my picture, I'll have some of them talk to you next month. I don't think any of them have such pretty feathers though. Just see if they have when they come. Well, 1 must fly back to my perch in the old elm tree. Good bye. NARROW TREAD 20 to 30 per cent, in favor ot the RECYCLE. Model No. 3. Roadster, $100.00. Model No. 10. Diamond Tandem, $15 Model No. i. Roadster, 575.00. We Wwr Jtrfjvrs w EiiER£, Cjry fi,\D TOWH IH THE (OUHTKY. CATALOOU&S ON APPLICATION Special Racyde. (Narrow Tiead ) Color C TneRacycle. (Narrow Tread.) Color Royal. Model No. 5. Ladies'. $100.0 THIS MEANS ALMOST 1-3 LESS PRESSURE ON THE BEARINGS. ETC. Among the thousands of solutions submitted in response to our crankhanger problem published in the cycle papers of No vember, not one quoted less than 10 and many as high as 40 per cent. Model N.o. I. Ladies', $75.< Pic 'iifi- mention •• I1IKIIS TESTIMONIALS. I/RANKFORT, KY., February 3, 1897. W. J. BLACK, Vice-President, Chicago, Hi. Dear Sir : I have a copy of your magazine entitled "Birds," and beg to say that I consider it one of the finest things on the subject that I have ever seen, and shall be pleased to recommend it to county and city superintendents of the state. Very respectfully, W. J. DAVIDSON, State Superintendent Public Instruction. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 27, 1897. W. J. BLACK, ESQ., Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : I am very much obliged for the copy of " Birds " that has just come to hand. It should be in the hands of every primary and grammar teacher. I send herewith copy of " List of San Francisco Teachers." Very respectfully, M. BABCOCK. LINCOLN, NEB., February 9, 1897. W. J. BLACK, Chicago, 111. Dear Sir : The first number of your magazine, " Birds," is upon my desk. I am highly pleased with it It will prove a very serviceable publication— one that strikes out along the right lines. For the purpose intended, it has, in my opinion, no equal. It is clear, concise, and admirably illustrated. Very respectfully, W. R. JACKSON, State Superintendent Public Instruction. NORTH LIMA, OHIO, February i, 1897. MR. W. E. WATT, Dear Sir : Sample copy of " Birds " received. All of the family delighted with it. We wish it unbounded success. It will be an excellent supplement to " In Birdland " in the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, and I venture Ohio will be to the front with a good subscription list. I enclose list of teachers. Very truly, C. M. L. ALTDOERFFER, Township Superintendent. MILWAUKEE, January 30, 1897. LTURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 227 Dearborn Street, Chicago. Gentlemen : I acknowledge with pleasure the receipt of your publication, " Birds," with accompanying circulars. I consider it the best on the subject in existence. I have submitted the circulars and publication to my teachers, who have nothing to say but praise in behalf of the monthly. JULIUS TORNEY, Principal 2nd Dist. Primary School, Milwaukee, Wis. OUR PREMIUM A picture of wonderful Pheasant almost life size in a natural scene, plate 12x18 inches, on card 19x25 inches, is given as a premium to yearly on this picture in Art Stores is $3*50 1. 1. APRIL, I89r. No. 4. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR Price 15 cents a copy— $1.50 a year, JATI IDF STI PUBLISHED Dl IRI ISHINP. mMDAIW? THir AP.H FROMSTHE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. 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A New and Scientific Method of Piano Construction FREE SOUNDING BOARD, VIBRATION BAR, STRINGS RESTING ON ALUMINUM WHEELS, ANTI- MOISTURE PIN BLOCK, LATERAL & & PEDALS & & Grand Diploma and fledal of Honor Awarded at Columbian World's Exposition, J893 Only American Piano r eceiving mention in the Official Report to the German «2t <£ tjt Government «^ «^ «^* Illustrated Catalogues ... containing full explanation Mailed Free. A. REED & SONS r>f\ N°- 5 Adams Street ...... CHICAGO NOW READY. THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. By JAMES NEWTON BASKHTT. Edited by "Dr. W. T. Harris, U. S. Com'r of Education. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. — A Bird's Forefathers. II.— How did the Birds First Fly, Perhaps ? III.— A Bird's Fore Leg. IV.— Why did the Birds put on Soft Raiment? V.— The Cut of a Bird's Frock. VI. — About a Bird's Unde -wear. VII.— A Bird's Outer Wrap. VIII.— A Bird's New Suit. IX.— "Putting on Paint.and Frills" among the Birds X.— Color Calls among the Birds. XI. — \Var and Weapons among the Birds. XII. — Antics and Odor among the Birds. XIII.— The Meaning of Music among Birds. XIV.— l''ieaks of Bachelors and Benedicts in Feathers XV. — Step-Parents among Birds. XVI.— Why did Birds begin to Incubate? XVII.— Why do the Birds Build So. XVIII.— Fastidious Nesting Habits of a few Birds. XIX.— What Mean the Markings and Shapes of Bird's Eggs? XX.— Why Two Kinds of Nestlings? XXI.— How Some Baby Birds are Fed. XXII.— How Some Giown-Up Birds get a Living. XXIII.— Tools and Tasks among the Birds. XXIV.— How a Bird Goes to Bed. XXV.— A Little Talk on Bird's Toes. XXVI.— The Way of a Bird in the Air. XXVII.— How and Why do Birds, Travel ? XXVIII.— What a Bird knows about Geography and Arithmetic. XXIX.— Profit and Loss in the Birds. XXX.— A Bird's Modern Kinsfolk. XXXI.— An Introduction to the Bird. XXXII. — Acquaintance with the Bird. i vol. 121110. Cloth, 65 cents, postpaid. D. APPLETON & CO., N w York, Boston, Chicago. Chicago Office, 243 Wabash Ave. § The Best is the Cheapest | I GROWN FOUNT™ GROWN GOLD Received Highest Awards at World's Fair, Chicago, 1893 I n ALL SIZES AND STYLES EVERY PEN GUARANTEED State Street. CHICAGO, ILL. ALL MAKES OF FOUNTAIN AND GOLD PENS REPAIRED. GROWN PEN GO., Manufacturers Harvey Medical College CO-EDUCATIONAL. 167-169-171 South Clark Street CHICAGO. Lectures every -week day evening. Clinics all day. Four years graded course. Special three mouths summer course. For further information address FRANCES DICKINSON, M. D., Secy. "ANDREWS" FURNISHES Everything: for Schools Rugby School Desks, Teachers' Desks and Chairs, Blackboards, Krasers, Dustless Crayons, Globes, Maps, Charts, Apparatus, etc., etc. The Jones Model of the Earth shows the reliefs of the land surface and ocean bed, 20 inches diameter. Used by the Royal Geograph ical Society,Cornell University. Normal, and other schools of various forms and grades. The Deep Sea Globe. This new 12 in. globe shows all that is seen on the common globe, but in addition the varying depths of the ocean bed, by color shading, also 500 soundings by figures. The A. H. Andrews Co. CHICAGO. (Next Auditorium) 300 WABASH AVE. Also Manufactures Office, Church and Bank Furniture. what wodd George Washington think of Mark Hanna? «* If you want to know, read "SPIRITS OF '76," By FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS, in last number of New Occasions A magazine of Reform; 96 pages; $1.00 a year; 10 cents a copy. No free sam ples, but to any one sending us 6 2-cent stamps we will mail a sample copy with several reform books ; over 300 pages in all. Agents wanted. Charles H. Kerr & Company, Publishers, 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago. PREPARE FOR A GOOD POSITION Bystud>ing Architecture, Engineer'ng. E ectricity, Drafting, Mathem .t cs. Shorthand, Typewriting, Eng ish, Penmanshin, Bookkeeping, Business, Teleg raphy, Plumbing. Best teachers. Thorough individual instruction. Rates lower than any other school. In struction also by mail in any desired study. Steam engineering a specialty. Call or address, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 151 Throop St., Chicago. DO For 30 Days Only i— Buys the OXFORD Se plete set . ved High Ar Machine, with a co of attachments ami guaran ars. This elegant High-Cirade Folding ible Cabinet Oxford Sewing Mai-hine nttoyourown home on 80 DAYS LFREE TRIAL, no money required In ladvance. 75,000 now In use. World's Kiiir I.tlrdal awarded. Silver lea Set FRKK. Buy from factory and save Dealer's and Agent's profits. Write to-day for free catalogue. Address QXFOltl» AI1»SE. CO., 306 WabMh Ave., CHICAGO, ILL. Stays lit. Don't jolt or blow out. "Out shines them all." Standard in fame, standard in name. Standard Cycle Lamp. For sale by all Sundries dealeis. Made by Standard Carriage Lamp Co. Chicago. 43 S. Can*l. Please mention. " BIRDS" when you write to Advertisers. ROSE-BREASTED GROSSBEAK. u 10 Life-size. THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. HIS is an American bird, and has been described under vari ous names by various authors. It is found in the lower parts of Pennsylvania, in the state of New York, and in New England, particu larly in autumn, when the berries of the sour gum are ripe, on the kernels of which it eagerly feeds. As a singer it has few superiors. It frequently sings at night, and even all night, the notes being extremely clear and mellow. It does not acquire its full colors until at least the second spring or summer. It is found as far east as Nova Scotia, as far west as Nebraska, and winters in great numbers in Guatemala. This Grosbeak is common in southern Indiana, northern Illinois, and western Iowa. It is usually seen in open woods, on the borders of streams, but frequently sings in the deep recesses of forests. In Mr. Nut- tail's opinion this species has no superior in song, except the Mocking Bird. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks arrive in May and nest early in June. They build in low trees on the edges of woods, frequently in small groves on the banks of streams. The nest is coarsely built of waste stubble, frag ments of leaves, and stems of plants, intermingled with and strengthened by twigs and coarser stems. It is eight inches wide, and three and a half high, with a cavity three inches in diameter and one in depth, being quite shallow for so large a nest. Dr. Hoy, of Racine, states that on the 1 5th of June, within six miles of that city, he found seven nests, all within a space of not over five acres, and he was assured that each year they resort to the same locality and nest in this social manner. Six of these nests were in thorn-trees, all were within six to ten feet of the ground, near the center of the top. Three of the four parent birds sitting on the nests were males. When a nest was disturbed, all the neighboring Grosbeaks gathered and appeared equally interested. It is frequently observed early in the month of March, making its way eastward. At this period it passes at a considerable height in the air. On the banks of the Sohuylkill, early in May, it has been seen feeding on the tender buds of trees. It eats various kinds of food, such as hemp-seed, insects, grasshoppers, and crickets with peculiar relish. It eats flies and wasps, and great numbers of these pests are destroyed by its strong bill. During bright moonshiny nights the Grosbeak sings sweetly, but not loudly. In the daytime, when singing, it has the habit of vibrating its wings, in the manner of the Mocking-bird. The male takes turns with his mate in sitting on the eggs. He is so happy when on the nest that he sings loud and long. His music is sometimes the cause of great mourning in the lovely family because it tells the egg hunter where to find the precious nest. THE CANADA JAY. I don't believe I shall let this bird talk to you, boys and girls, for I'm afraid he will not tell you what a funny fellow he is. Isn't he a queer looking bird? See how ruffled up his feathers are. He looks as though he forgot to fix up, just as some little boys forget to comb their hair before going to school. Well, to tell the truth, he is a very careless bird and does very funny things sometimes. He can't be trusted. Just listen to some of the names that people give him— "Meat Bird," "Camp Robber." I think you can guess why he is called those names. Hunters say that he is the boldest of birds, and I think they are right, for what bird would dare to go right into a tent and carry off things to eat. A hunter thought he would play a joke on one of these birds. He had a small paper sack of crackers in the bottom of his boat. The Jay flew down, helped himself to a cracker and flew away with it to his nest. While he was gone the hunter tied up the mouth of the bag. In a few moments the Jay was back for more. When he saw he could not get into the bag, he just picked it up and carried it off. The joke was on the hunter after all. Look at him. Doesn't he look bold enough to do such a trick ? Look back at your February number of " BIRDS" and see if he is anything like the Blue Jay. He is not afraid of the snow and often times he and his mate have built their nest, and the eggs are laid while there is still snow on the ground. Do you know of any other birds who build their nests so early? There is one thing about this bird which we all admire — he is always busy, never idle; so we will forgive him for his funny tricks. 116 THE CANADA JAY. ANY will recognize the Canada Jay by his local names, of which he has a large assortment. He is called by the guides and lumbermen of the Adiron dack wilderness, " Whisky Jack " or u Whisky John," a corruption of the Indian name, " Wis-ka-tjon," "Moose Bird," "Camp Robber," "Hudson Bay Bird," "Caribou Bird," "Meat Bird," " Grease Bird," and " Venison Heron." To each of these names his characteristics have well entitled him. The Canada Jay is found only in the more northern parts of the United States, where it is a resident and breeds. In northern Maine and northern Minnesota it is most common; and it ranges northward through the Dominion of Canada to the western shores of Hudson Bay, and to the limit of timber within the Arctic Circle east of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Manly Hardy, in a special bulletin of the Smithsonian Institution, says, " They are the boldest of our birds, except the Chickadee, and in cool impudence far surpass all others. They will enter the tents, and often alight on the bow of a canoe, where the paddle at every stroke comes within eighteen inches of them. I know nothing which can be eaten that they will not take, and I had one steal all my candles, pulling them out endwise, one by one, from a piece of birch bark in which they were rolled, and another pecked a large hole in a keg of castile soap. A duck which I had picked and laid down for a few minutes had the entire breast eaten out by one or more of these birds. I have seen one alight in the middle of my canoe and peck away at the car- cess of a beaver I had skinned. They often spoil deer saddles by pecking into them near the kidneys. They do great damage to the trappers by steal ing the bait from traps set for martens and minks, and by eating trapped game. They will sit quietly and see you build a log trap and bait it, and then, almost before your back is turned, you hear their hateful " Ca-ca-ca," as they glide down and peer into it. They will work steadily, carrying off meat and hiding it. I have thrown out pieces, and watched one to see how much he would carry off. He flew across a wide stream and in a short time looked as bloody as a butcher from carrying large pieces ; but his patience held out longer than mine. I think one would work as long as Mark Twain's California Jay did try ing to fill a miner's cabin with acorns through a knot hole in the roof. They are fond of the berries of the mountain ash, and, in fact, few things come amiss ; I believe they do not possess a single good quality except industry." Its flight is slow and laborious, while it moves on the ground and in trees with a quickness and freedom equal to that of our better known Bluejay. The nesting season begins early, before the snow has disappeared, and therefore comparatively little is known about its breeding habits. It is then silent and retiring and is seldom seen or heard. The nest is quite large, made of twigs, fibres, willow bark, and the down of the cottonwood tree, and lined with finer material. The eggs, so far as is known, number three or four., They are of a pale gray color, flecked and spotted over the surface with brown, slate gray, and lavender. 119 THE PURPLE GALLINULE. URPLE GalHnules are found in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and casually northward as far as Maine, New York, Wisconsin, and south throughout the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America to Brazil. The bird pictured was caught in the streets of Gal veston, Texas, and presented to Mr. F. M. Woodruff, of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. Gallinules live in marshy districts, and some of them might even be called water-fowls. They usually prefer sedgy lakes, large swampy morasses and brooks, or ponds and rivers well stocked with vegetation. They are not social in disposition, but show attachment to any locality of which they have taken possession, driving away other birds much larger and stronger than themselves. They are tenderly attached to their little ones and show great affection for each other. The nest is always built among, or near the water plants of which they are fond. It is about eight inches thick and fifteen to eighteen inches in diameter, and is placed from a foot to two feet out of water among the heavy rushes. The Purple Gallinule is known to build as many as five or six sham nests, a trait which is not confined to the Wren family. Prom four to twelve smooth shelled and spotted eggs are laid, and the nestlings when first hatched are clad in dark colored down. On leav ing the nest they, accompanied by their parents, seek a more favorable situation until after the moulting season. Half fluttering and half run ning, they are able to make their way over a floating surface of water-plants. They also swim with facility, as they are aquatic, having swimming mem branes on their feet, and while vege table feeders to some extent, they dive for food. It is noted that some Gallinules, when young, crawl on bushes by wing claws. The voice somewhat resembles the cackling or clucking of a hen. It eats the tender shoots of young corn, grass, and various kinds of grain. When the breeding season approaches, the mated pairs generally resort to rice fields, concealing themselves among the reeds and rushes. Mr. Woodruff noted that when the railway trains pass through the over-flowed districts about Galves- ton, the birds fly up along the track in large multitudes. The Purple Gallinules are stoutly built birds, with a high and strong bill, and their remarkably long toes, which enable them to walk readily over the water plants, are frequently employed to hold the food, very much in the manner of a parrot, while eating. O, purple-breasted Gallinule Why should thy beauty cause thee fear ? Why should the huntsman seek to fool Thy inocence, and bring thee near His deadly tool of fire and lead ? Thou boldest high thy stately head! Would that the hunter might consent To leave thee in thy sweet content. — C. C. M. From col. F. M. Woodruff. PURPLE GALLINULE. SMITH'S PAINTED LONGSPUR. MITH'S Painted Longspur is usually considered a rare bird in the middle west, but a recent observer found it very common in the fields. He saw twenty-five on October 3rd of last year. They were associated with a large flock of Lapland Longspurs. On account of its general resemblance to the latter species it is often overlooked. It is found in the interior of North America from the Arctic coast to Illinois and Texas, breeding far north, where it has a thick, fur-lined, grass nest, set in moss on the ground. Like the Lapland Longspur, it is only a winter visitor. It is not so generally distributed as that species, the migra tions being wholly confined to the open prairie districts. Painted Long- spurs are generally found in large flocks, and when once on the ground begin to sport. They run very nimbly, and when they arise utter a sharp click, repeated several times in quick succession, and move with an easy undulating motion for a short distance, when they alight very suddenly, seem ing to fall perpendicularly several feet to the ground. They prefer the roots where the grass is shortest. When in the air they fly in circles, to and fro, for a few minutes, and then alight, keeping up a constant chirping or call. They seem to prefer the wet portions of the prairie. In the breed ing seasons the Longspur's song has much of charm, and is uttered like the Skylark's while soaring. The Long- spur is a ground feeder, and the mark of his long hind claw, or spur, can often be seen in the new snow. In 1888 the writer saw a considerable flock of Painted Longspurs feeding along the Niagara river near Fort Brie, Canada. The usual number of eggs found in a nest is four or five, and the nests, for the most part, are built of fine dry grasses, carefully arranged and lined with down, feathers, or finer materials similar to those of the outer portions. They are sometimes sunk in an excavation made by the birds, or in a tuft of grass, and in one instance, placed in the midst of a bed of Labra dor tea. When the nest is approached, the female quietly slips off, while the male bird may be seen hopping or fly ing from tree to tree in the neighborhood of the nest and doing all he can to induce intruders to withdraw from the neigh borhood. The eggs have a light clay- colored ground, marked with obscure blotches of lavender and darker lines, dots, and blotches of purplish brown. The Longspur is a strong flier, and seems to delight in breasting the strongest gales, when all the other birds appear to move with difficulty, and to keep themselves concealed among the grass. While the colors of adult males are very different in the Longspur family, the females have a decided resemblance. The markings of the male are faintly indicated, but the black and buff are wanting. 125 THE AMERICAN CROSS BILL. MERICAN CROSSBILLS are notable for their small size, being considered and described as dwarfs of the family. Their food consists exclusively of pine, fir, and larch, which accounts for the fact that they are more numerous in Northern latitudes where these trees abound. When the cones are abundant they visit in great numbers many places where they have not been for years, appearing at irregular intervals, and not confining themselves to particular localities. They are very social even dur ing the nesting season. Their nests are built among the branches of the fir trees, and there they disport themselves gaily, climbing nimbly, and assisting their movements, as parrots do, with their beaks. They will hang downward for minutes cling ing to a twig or cone, seeming to enjoy this apparently uncomfortable position. They fly rapidly, but never to a great distance. " The pleasure they experi ence in the society of their mates is often displayed by fluttering over the tops of the trees as they sing, after which they hover fora time, and then sink slowly to their perch. In the day time they are generally in motion, with the exception of a short time at noon. During the spring, summer and autumn they pass their time in flying from one plantation to another." The Crossbill troubles itself but little about the other inhabitants of the woods, and is said to be almost fearless of man. Should the male lose his mate, he will remain sorrowfully perched upon the branch from which his little companion has fallen ; again and again visit the spot in the hope of finding her ; indeed it is only after repeated proofs that she will never return that he begins to show any symptoms of shyness. In feeding the Crossbill perches upon a cone with its head downwards, or lays the cone upon a branch and stands upon it, holding it fast with his sharp, strong pointed claws. Sometimes it will bite off a cone and carry it to a neighboring bough, or to another tree where it can be opened, for a suitable spot is not to be found on every branch. The nest is formed of pine twigs, lined with feathers, soft grass, and the needle-like leaves of the fir tree. Three or four eggs of a grayish or bluish white color, streaked with faint blood red, reddish brown, or bluish brown spots, are generally laid. The following poem is quite a favor ite among bird lovers, and is one of those quaint legends that will never die. THE LEGEND OF THE CROSSBILL. From the German of Julius Mosen, by Longfellow. On the cross the dying Saviour Heavenward lifts his eyelids calm, Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling In his pierced and bleeding palm. And by all the world forsaken, Sees he how with zealous care At the ruthless nail of iron A little bird is striving there. And that bird Covered all In the groves Songs, like Stained with blood and never tiring, With its beak it doth not cease, From the cross it would free the Saviour, Its Creator's son release. And the Saviour speaks in mildness: " Blest be thou of all the good ! Bear, as token of this moment, Marks of blood and holy rood!" is called the Crossbill, with blood so clear, of pine it singeth, legends, strange to hear. 126 n col. F. AMERICAN RED CROSSBILL. BIRD DAY IN THE SCHOOLS. IRD DAY ! Have you heard of it? Whether you have or not, we wish to assure you that it is worthy the thoughtful consideration of all teachers, and of all others interested in protecting and preserving our sweet birds. Bird day has already proved a great success in two cities of the United States, both in the enthusiasm shown by the children in their friendly study of birds and in the result of such study. In 1894, Oil City, Pa., observed the day, and in 1896 it was celebrated in the schools of Fort Madison, Iowa. Of the results in his schools, Supt. Babcock, of Oil City, says, " There has been a complete change in the relations, existing between the small boy and the birds." Although we in Fort Madison have been engaged in bird study less than a year, and have observed but one BIRD DAY, results similar to those secured by Supt. Babcock are becoming mani fest. Only a few days ago a boy said to his teacher, " I used to take pleasure in killing all kinds of birds. Now I don't wish to harm even an English Sparrow." The object of BIRD DAY and the study that leads to it, is to diffuse a true knowledge of the aesthetic and practical value of birds and to arouse an interest in bird protection. And it is high time that something be done. From all over the country come reports of a decrease in native birds. In many places some of our sweetest songsters and most useful insect destroyers have become very scarce or have disappeared entirely. The causes are many, but the greatest is an inexcusable thoughtlessness on the part of young and old of both sexes. Johnny teases for a gun. His fond parents get it for him. Result — Johnny shows his marksmanship by shooting several birds in his vicinity. Or, perhaps, the ladies need new hats. Nothing except birds for trimming will do, though ten thousand sweet songs be hushed forever. The study of bird life is one of especial interest to children and if properly pursued will develop in them sympathetic characters that should make them kinder towards their play mates now and towards their fellow- men in the coming years. Impress upon a child that " He liveth best who loveth best All things, both great and small," and you have built into his life some thing that shall shine forth in good deeds through countless age,s. And how go about this work? The limit of space allotted this article forbids a full answer. Briefly, — study the birds themselves. Get a boy aroused to a friendly, protective interest in one bird and you have probably made that boy a friend of all birds. If you are a teacher, take your little flock out early some bright, Spring morning and let them listen to [Continued on page 138.] 129 THE CALIFORNIA WOOD-PECKER. I may not be as pretty a bird as my red-headed cousin but I'm just as busy. My home is in the west among the pines on the mountains. I do not visit the east at all. Of course I like insects and fruits just as my relations do, but I like best to eat acorns. You know, if I left the acorns on the trees and just got enough to eat at one time, after a while I would have a hard time finding any. They would drop off and roll away and get lost among the leaves and grasses. "What would you do if you were I? I have a very sharp bill, you see. So I can peck and peck at the tree until I have made a hole which will hold an acorn. Sometimes I fill my store house quite full in this way. You can see how they look in the picture. When I want to get at the meat in the acorn I drive the nut into a crack and split the shell. Then I have my breakfast easily enough. Some of the other birds like acorns too — but I think they should find and store away their own and not try to take mine. I do not like to quarrel and so have many friends. Then I have my nest to look after. I make it as my cousin does, by digging into a tree, first a passage way or hall—then a living-room. There are the four or five white eggs and there too soon are the little baby-birds to be taken care of. Now, have I not a great deal of work? Do you not think I am quite as busy as my cousin ? 130 col. Chi. Acad. Sciences. CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER. THE CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER. HIS fine specimen of the Wood pecker is by far the most sociable representative of the family in the United States, and it is no unusual occurence to see half a dozen or more in a single tree. It is also a well disposed bird, and seldom quarrels or fights with its own kind, or with smaller birds, but it attacks intruders on its winter stores with such vigor and presistence that they are compelled to vacate the premises in a hurry. Its manner of flight and call notes closely resemble those of the Red-Headed Woodpecker, and, like it, it loves to cling to some dead limb near the top of a tree and drum for hours at a time. It is one of the most restless of birds, and never appears to be at a loss for amusement, and no other bird belonging to this family could possibly be more industrious. During the Spring and Summer its food consists, to some extent, of insects, including grass-hoppers, ants, beetles, and flies — varied with cherries, apples, figs, berries and green corn. Acorns form its principal food during the greater portion of the year. Of these it stores away large numbers in the thick bark of pines, in partly rotten limbs of oak trees, telegraph poles, and fence posts. A writer in the " Auk " says of its habits: " It is essentially a bird of the pines, only occasionally decending to the cotton woods of low valleys. The oaks, which are scattered through the lower pine zone, supply a large share of its food. Its habit of hoarding food is well known, and these stores are the source of unending quarrels with its numerous feathered enemies. I have laid its supplies under contribution myself, when short of provisions and lost from the com mand on which I had been traveling, by filling my saddlebags with half- dried acorns from under the loose bark of a dead pine." The California Woodpecker is found in western Mexico, northern Lower California, and north through Cali fornia into western Oregon. So far as is kno\vn the eastern limit of its range is the Santa Fe Mountains. Its nest is usually from fifteen to twenty-five feet from the ground, excavated on the side of a branch of a good sized oak or sycamore. Breeding commences in April or May, according to locality. Both sexes assist in the excavation. The entrance hole is about one and three-fourths inches in diameter, perfectly circular, and is sometimes chisled through two or three inches of solid wood before the softer and decayed core is reached. The inner cavity is greatly enlarged" as it descends, and varies from eight to twenty-four inches in depth. The eggs rarely exceed four or five, and are pure white in color. The most remarkable fact concern ing this species is the peciiliar manner in which it stores acorns. The thick bark of large sugar and other pines has been seen completely riddled with small holes. A section of a partly decayed oak limb, three feet two inches long and five and one-half inches in diameter, contained 255 holes. Each hole is intended to hold a single acorn. The acorns fit quite accurately, are driven in point fore most, and are not readily extracted. Sweet acorns are selected. To get at their contents the acorns are carried to a convenient tree where a limb has been broken off, driven into a suitable crevice, split open, and the outer hull removed. Truly the California Wood pecker is no idler or bungler, nor is he a free-booter, like the noisy, roystering Jay. He makes an honest living, and provides for the evil day which comes alike to man and beast. '33 THE PIEDBILL GREBE. Boys and Girls: This is the first time I've been on land for several weeks. I am sure you can't think of any other kind of bird who can say that. Sometimes I don't go on land for months, but stay in the water all of the time — eat and sleep there, floating around. My little chick wanted me to go on land so we could have our pictures taken. If he were not sitting so close to me you could see better what paddles I have for feet. I build my nest of weeds, grass, sticks, and anything I can find floating around. I most always fasten it to some reeds or tall grass that grow up out of the water. In this I lay the eggs and just as soon as the chicks come out of the shell they can swim. Of course they can't swim as well as I and they soon get tired. Do you know how I rest them? Well, its very funny, but I just help them up on my back and there they rest while I swim around and get them food. When they get rested they slide off into the water. Are you wondering if I can fly ? Well, I can fly a little but not very well. I can get along very fast swimming, and as I do not go on land often, why should I care to fly. Should any one try to harm me I can dive, and swim under water out of reach. Well, chick, let us go back to our home in the water. 134 From col. F. M Woodruff PIED BILLED GREBE. THE PffiDBILL GREBE. EMBERS of the family of Grebes are to be found in the temperate ,zones of both hemis pheres, beyond which they do not extend very far either to the north or south. They are usually found on ponds or large sheets of stagnant water, sometimes on deep, slow-moving streams ; but always where sedges and rushes are abundant. Probably there are no birds better entitled to the name of water fowl than the Grebes — at least, observers state that they know of no others that do not on some occasions appear on dry land. It is only under the most urgent circumstances, as, for instance, when wounded, that they approach the sho/e, and even then they keep so close to the brink that on the slightest alarm they can at once plunge into the water. Whatever they do must be done in the water ; they cannot even rise upon the wing without a preliminary rush over the surface of the lake. From dry land they cannot begin their flight. Their whole life is spent in swimming and diving. They even repose floating upon the water, and when thus asleep float as buoyantly as if they were made of cork, the legs raised to the edges of the wings, and the head comfortably buried among the feathers between the back and shoulder. Should a storm arise, they at once turn to face the blast, and are usually able, with their paddle-like feet, to maintain them selves in the same place. They dive with great facility, and make their way more swiftly when under water than when swimming at the top. When flying the long neck is stretched out straight forwards and the feet backwards. In the absence of any tail, they steer their course by means of their feet. When alarmed they instantly dive. Their food consists of small fishes, insects, frogs, and tadpoles. Grebes are peculiar in their manner of breed ing. They live in pairs, and are very affectionate, keeping in each others company during their migrations, and always returning together to the same pond. The nest is a floating one, a mass of wet weeds, in which the eggs are not only kept damp, but in the water. The weeds used in building the nests are procured by diving, and put together so as to resemble a float ing heap of rubbish, and fastened to some old upright reeds. The eggs are from three to six, at first greenish white in color, but soon become dirty, and are then of a yellowish red or olive-brown tint, sometimes marbled. The male and female both sit upon the nest, and the young are hatched in three weeks. From the first moment they are able to swim, and in a few days to dive. Having once quitted the nest they seldom return to it, a comfortable resting and sleeping place being afforded them on the backs of their parents. "It is a treat to watch the little family as now one, now another of the young brood, tired with the exertion of swimming or of struggling against the rippling water, mount as to a resting place on their mother's back; to see how gently, when they have recovered their strength, she returns them to the water ; to hear the anxious, plaintive notes of the little warblers when they have ventured too far from the nest ; to see their food laid before them by the old birds ; or to witness the tenderness with which they are taught to dive." 137 BIRD DAY IN THE SCHOOLS— Continued from page J29. the singing of their feathered brothers Call attention to their grace of form, plumage of the air. beauty and and movement. Watch them care for their little ones. Notice their nests — their happy little homes — those " half way houses on the road to heaven," and as you and your flock wander, watch and listen and call to mind that, " 'Tis always morning somewhere, and above The awakening continents, from shore to shore, Somewhere the birds are singing evermore." Let us, fellow teachers and fellow citizens of America, take up this work of bird study and bird protection. Let the schools teach it, the press print it, and the pulpit preach it, till from thousands of happy throats shall be proclaimed the glad tidings of good will of man towards the birds. C. H. MORRILL, Supt. of Schools. Fort Madison, Iowa. We are in receipt almost daily of letter inquiries for good literature on birds, and suitable exercises for Bird Day Programs. It will be our purpose from time to time to suggest good works by the best authors. We give below a list of publications that are especially fine, and shall be pleased to supply them at the list price, as indicated, or as premiums for subscribers to "BIRDS." 44 Birds Through an Opera Glass/' 75 cents, or two subscriptions. ''Bird Ways/' 60 cents, or two subscriptions. "In Nesting Time," $1.25, or three subscriptions. "A Bird Lover of the West/' $1.25, or three subscriptions. "Upon the Tree Tops/' $1.25, or three subscriptions. "Wake Robin/' fi.oo, or three subscriptions. "Birds in the Bush/' $1.25, or three subscriptions. "A-Birding on a Bronco/' $1.25, or three subscriptions. " Land Birds and Game Birds of New England/' $3 50, or eight subscriptions. "Birds and Poets/' $1.25, or three subscriptions. "Bird Craft," "The Story of Birds/' 75 cents, or two subscriptions. "Hand Book of Birds of Eastern North America/' $3.00, or seven subscriptions. In numbers 70, 63, 4, 28 and 54 of the Riverside Series, published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co , may be found selections appropriate for Bird Day Programs, and in the "Intelligence," of April i, published by E. O. Vaile, Oak Park, Illinois, may be found some interesting exercises for Bird Day Pro gram. Copies of the paper may be obtained at eight cents. 138 From col. F. M. Woodruff BOHEMIAN WAXWING. THE BOHEMIAN WAX-WING. HE Bohemian Wax-wing is interesting for its gipsy-like wanderings, one winter visit ing one country, next season another, often in enormous flocks, and usually with intervals of many years, so that in former times their appear ance was regarded as sure forebodings of war and pestilence, their arrival being dreaded as much as that of a comet. Another interesting feature of its history is the fact that for a long time this familiar bird eluded the search of the zoologist. Its breeding habits, and even the place where it breeds, were unknown thirty years ago, until finally discovered by Mr. Wolley in Lapland, after a diligent search during four summers. It is also called the European or Common Silk-tail, and is an inhabitant both of northern Europe and of North America, though in America the Cedar Bird is more often met with. In the northern portions of Europe, birch and pine forests constitute its favorite retreats, and these it seldom quits, except when driven by unusual severity of weather, or by heavy falls of snow, to seek refuge in more southern provinces. It is said that even in Russia, Poland, and southern Scandinavia it is constantly to be seen throughout the entire winter ; that indeed, so rarely does it wander to more southern latitudes, that in Germany it is popularly supposed to make its appearance once in seven vears. On the occasion of these rare migrations, the Silk-tails keep together in large flocks, and remain in any place that affords them suitable food until the supply is exhausted. These birds are heavy and indolent, exerting themselves rarely except to satisfy hunger. They live in perfect harmony, and during their migrations indicate no fear of man, seeking their food in the streets of the villages and towns. They frequently settle in the trees, remaining almost motionless for hours together. Their flight is light and graceful, but on the ground they move with difficulty. Their call note is a hissing, twittering sound. In summer, insects are their chief food, while in winter they live principally on berries. The Wax-wing will devour in the course of twenty-four hours an amount of food equal to the weight of its own body. In Lapland is the favorite nesting ground of the Bohemian Wax-wing. The nests are deeply hidden among the boughs of pine trees, at no great height from the ground ; their walls are formed of dry twigs and scraps from the surrounding branches, and the cavities are wide, deep, and lined with blades of grass and feathers. There are five eggs, laid about the middle of June ; the shell is bluish or purplish white, sprinkled with brown, black, or violet spots and streaks, some of which take the form of a wreath at the broad end. The exquisite daintiness and softness of the Wax-wing's coat can be com pared only to floss silk. 141 THE MARSH WREN. (5 I HESE Wrens inhabit marshy and weedy bottom lands along river courses, and have all the brisk manners and habits of the family. This species, however, has a peculiar habit of building several nests every season, and it is suggested that these are built to pro cure protection for the female, in order that when search is made for the nest where she is sitting, the male may lure the hunter to an empty nest. Its song is not unlike that of the House Wren, though less agreeable. It is a summer resident, arriving in May and departing in September. Its nest, which is found along borders of rivers, is made of sedge and grasses suspended near tall reeds. It has been found hanging over a small stream, suspended from the drooping bough of an alder tree, swayed to and fro by every breath of air. A careful observer states that a Wren will forsake her nest when building it, sooner than any other bird known to him. Disturb her repeatedly when building and she leaves it apparently without cause ; insert your ringers in her tenement and she will leave it forever. But when the eggs are laid, the Wren will seldom abandon her treasure, and when her tender brood are depending on her for food, she will never forsake them, even though the young be handled, or the female bird be caught on the nest while feeding them. The food of the Wren is insects, their larvae and eggs, and fruit in season. This Wren has justly been called a perennial songster. " In Spring the With tail up, and head up, The Wren begins to sing ; He fills the air with melody, And makes the alders ring ; We listen to his cadences, We watch his frisky motions, We think — his mate attending him— He's got some nesting notions.— C. C. M. love-song of the Wren sounds through the forest glades and hedges, as the buds are expanding into foliage and his mate is seeking a site for a cave- like home. And what a series of jerks it is composed of, and how abruptly he finishes his song, as if suddenly alarmed ; but this is his peculiar habit and common to him alone. In summer we hear his song morning, noon, and night, go forth for very joyfulness, as he wanders hither and thither in his leafy bower." It is only in the moulting season that he does not sing. A lady who used to attract a great number of birds to her garden with crumbs, seeds, and other dainties, said that when the weather became cold the Wrens used to gather upon a large branch of a tree, about four inches beneath another branch. They assembled there in the evening and packed themselves very comfortably for the night, three or four deep, apparently for the sake of warmth, the topmost Wren always having his back pressed against the outer branch as if to keep all steady. Pitying their forlorn condition, she provided a bed room for them — a square box lined with flannel, and with a very small round hole for a door. This was fastened to the branch, and the birds promptly took possession of it, their numbers increasing nightly, until at least forty Wrens crowded into the box which did not seem to afford room for half the number. When thus assembled they became so drowsy as to permit themselves to be gently handled. 142 From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN. THE MARSH WRENS. A happier pair of birds than these little Wrens it would be hard to find. /They have just come up from taking their morning bath and are going to sing a while before going to work on their nests. You see I say nests. That is a strange thing about the Wrens, they build several nests. I wonder if you can tell why they do this. If you can't, ask your teacher about it. It is a little too early in the season or I would have one of the nests in the picture for you to look at. I will try to describe it to you, so that you will know it when you see it. These little Wrens make their nests of coarse grasses, reed stalks, and such things, lined witli fine grasses. It is round like a ball, or nearly so, and has the open ing in the side. They fasten them to the reeds and bushes. If you wish to get acquainted with these birds, you must visit the tall grasses and cat-tails along rivers and creeks and in marshes. You won't have to let them know that you are coming; they will see you long before you see them, and from their little nests they will begin to scold you, for fear that you mean to do them harm. When they see that you mean them no harm, they will begin to entertain you with their songs. Oh, how they do sing ! It just seems as though they would burst with song. You can see how happy the one is in the picture. The other little fellow will soon take his turn. See how straight he holds his tail up. Find out all you can about these Wrens. You notice they have long bills. We call them Long-billed Marsh Wrens. There are several other kinds. You surely must have seen their cousins, the House Wrens. I will show you their pictures some day. THE ARIZONA GREEN JAY. (^ I HE geographical range of the ^ I Arizona Jay is in southern Q I New Mexico and Arizona ~~ and south into Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico. It is a common resident throughout the oak belt which generally fringes the foot-hills of the mountains and ranges well up among the pines. In suitable localities it is very abundant. It is rarely .seen at any distance out of the arid plains ; but after the breeding season is over, small flocks are sometimes met with among the shrubbery of the few water courses, several miles away from their regular habitat. They are seen in the early Spring, evidently on a raid for eggs and the young of smaller birds. On such occasions they are very silent, and their presence is only betrayed by the scoldings they receive from other birds. On their own heath they are as noisy as any of our Jays, and apparently far more sociable, a number of pairs frequently nesting close to each other in a small oak grove. They move about in small family parties of from half a dozen to twenty or thirty, being rarely seen alone. They are restless, constantly on the move, prying into this or that, spend ing a good portion of their time on the ground, now hopping on a low limb, and the next minute down again, twitching their tails almost constantly. Their call notes are harsh and far reaching, and are somewhat similar to those of the California Jay. The voices of animals have a family character not easily mistaken, and this similarity is especially observable in birds. As Agassiz says, u Compare all the sweet warbles of the songster family — the nightingales, the thrushes, the mocking birds, the robins; they differ in the greater or lesser perfection of their note, but the same kind of voice runs through the whole group. Does not every member of the Crow family caw, whether it be a Jackdaw, the Jay, or the Magpie, the Rook in some green rookery of the Old World, or the Crow of our woods, with its long melancholy caw that seems to make the silence and solitude deeper ? " The habits of the Arizona Jay are similar to those of its brethren. Its food consists of grasshoppers, insects, animal matter, wild fruits, seeds, and especially acorns. It flies by partly closing its wings, darting suddenly down, then up again, and repeating these movements for some time. It mates about the end of February. The nest, composed of dry rootlets laid very closely in rings, is usually found in an oak sapling about ten feet from the ground. The inside diameter is five inches, and depth one and three- fourths inches. It is like a deep saucer. The Arizona Jay is considered a foothill bird, not going far into the pines and not appearing on the plains. But one brood appears to be raised in a season, and nesting lasts about sixteen days. The eggs vary from four to seven, and differ from all the known eggs of this family found within the United States, being unspotted. They are glaucous green in color, and the majority are much more glossy than Jays' eggs generally are. In one hundred and thirty-six specimens examined, all were perfectly immaculate. 146 ARIZONA JAY. :! s Life-size. CHICAGO COLORT Amateur F^hotography. MATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY is the most delightful pastime one can indulge in. Aside from the pleasure and amusement derived, it cultivates the artistic taste, the love of nature, is a source of instruction, and may be made to serve many useful purposes. The "Dexter" is small, neat and compact. Makes pictures 3)^x3^ inches square and will produce portraits, landscapes, groups, interiors or flashlights equally as well as many higher priced cameras. Will carry three double plate holders with a capacity of six dry plates.. Each camera is covered with black morocco grain leather, also provided with a brilliant finder for snap shot work. Has a Bausch & Lomb single aero- malic lens of wonderful depth and definition and a compound time and instantaneous shutter which is a marvel of ingenuity. A separate button is provided for time and instantaneous work so that a twist of a button or pulling of a lever is not neces sary as in most cameras. A tripod socket is also provided so that it can be used for hand or tripod work as desired. All complicated adjustments have been dispensed with so that the instrument can be manipulated with ease by the youngest ama teur. Full and explicit instruc tions are sent with each camera. Send 5c stamps for sample pict- FLASH UGHT PICTURE MADE WITH "DEXTER" CAMERA. " Dexter" Camera. ure and descriptive circulars. Sent to any address in U. S. or Canada upon receipt of $4.OO. Send by P. O. Money Order or Express Order. Makes pictures 3)^x3^ inches square. Measures 4^x5^x7. Weighs only 15 ounces. SEARS JEWELRY CO., General Agents, 225 Dearborn St., Chicago, III. Manufacturers, Importers and Dealers in Jewelry, Watches, Diamonds and Novelties. Sole Agents for the South African Off-Color Diamonds, ($3.00 per carat, unmounted), and Manufacturers Agents and Introducers of Novelties to the trade and street men. I'lraso mention "BIKDS" when you write to ndverti-.Ts. ESI \dcgcle crAtik-hAns>er f)A5 from 26 to <30 |)er-cef)t Jess Jjreasure on the ihStf thAn the crAnk-bAn^er of other bicycle on the mArket. 1 1000 in cash will be [taid to the first owe who can dcmonstrAte that the Above Assertion is not A fAct. No cycle considered wifhout the consent of the mAker. All infringements bArred. Address All commumcAtion: to Middletowr), Okie, Ohio. y/our •-•INQUIRY BLANK ••• * To the Advertiwno Debartment. Miami Cycle & Ml?. Co.. Middle! Please 6«nd me fuller information re. 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A New and Scientific Method of Piano Construction FREE SOUNDING BOARD, VIBRATION BAR, STRINGS RESTING ON ALUMINUM WHEELS, ANTI- MOISTURE PIN BLOCK, LATERAL & # PEDALS * & Grand Diploma and fledal of Honor Awarded at Columbian World's Exposition, J 893 Only American Piano receiving mention in the Official Report to the German & jt ^ Government jfi & & A. REED & SONS Illustrated Catalogues ... /•»t-iir»A/-»/\ containing full explanation Mailed Free. N°. 5 Adams Street CM ICAUO Please mention "BIRDS" when von write to advertisers. NOW READY. THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. By JAMES NEWTON. BASKETT. Edited by Dr. W. T. Harris, U. S. Com'r of Education. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.— A Bird's Forefathers. II.— How did the Birds First Fly, Perhaps ? III.— A Bird's Fore Leg. IV.— Why did the Birds put on Soft Raiment? V.— The Cut of a Bird's Frock. VI. — About a Bird's Unde -wear. VII.— A Bird's Outer Wrap. VIII.— A Bird's New Suit. ' IX.— "Putting on Paint and Frills" among the Birds X. — Color Calls among the Birds. XI.— War and Weapons among the Birds. XII. — Antics and Odor among the Birds. XIII. — The Meaning of Music among Birds. XIV. — Freaks of Bachelors and Benedicts in Feathers XV. — Step-Parents among Birds. XVI.— Why did Birds begin to Incubate ? XVII.— Why do the Birds Build So. XVIII.— Fastidious Nesting Habits of a few Birds. XIX.— What Mean the Markings and Shapes of Bird's Eggs? XX.— Why Two Kinds of Nestlings? XXI.— How Some Baby Birds are Fed. XXII.— How Some Grown-Up Birds get a Living. XXIII.— Tools and Tasks among the Birds. XXIV.— How a Bird Goes to lied. XXV.— A Little Talk on Bird's Toes. XXVI.— The Way of a Bird in the Air. XXVII.— How and Why do Birds Travel ? XXVIII.— What a Bird knows about Geography and Arithmetic. XXIX.— Profit and Loss in the Birds. XXX.— A Bird's Modern Kinsfolk. XXXI.— An Introduction to the Bird. XXXII.— Acquaintance with the Bird. i vol. i2ino. Cloth, 65 cents, postpaid. D. APPLETON & CO., N.w York, Boston, Chicago. Chicago Office, 243 Wabash Ave. The Best is the Cheapest GROWN PENS GROWN GOLD PENS Received Highest Awards at World's Fair, Chicago, 1893 ALL SIZES AND STYLES EVERY PEN GUARANTEED GROWN PEN GO., Manufacturers 78 State Street, CHICAGO, ILL. ALL MAKES OF FOUNTAIN AND GOLD PENS REPAIRED. NARROW TREAD Has so many good points of superiority that in justice to yourself you should investigate before you purchase any other wheel. The only mechanically correct wheel on earth* Miami Cycle Co,, MIDDLETOWN, OHIO. CHICAGO BRANCH: S. W. Cor. "Wabash Ave. and Congess St Hanieu Medical College CO-EDUCATIONAL. 167-169-171 South Clark Street CHICAGO. Lectures every week day evening. Clinics all day. Four years graded course. Special three mouths summer course. For further information address FRANCES DICKINSON, M. D., Secy. "ANDREWS" FURNISHES Everything for Schools Rugby School Desks, Teachers' Desks and Chairs, Blackboards, Erasers, Dustless Crayons, Globes, Maps, Charts, Apparatus, etc., etc. The Jones Model of the Earth shows the reliefs of the laud surface and ocean bed, 20 inches diameter. Used by the Royal Geograph ical Society.Cornell University. Normal, and other schools of various forms and grades. The Deep Sea Globe. This new 12 in. globe shows all that is seen on the common globe, but in addition the varying depths of the ocean bed, by color shading, also 500 soundings by figures. The A. H. Andrews Co. CHICAGO. (Next Auditorium) 300 WABASH AVE { •B Also Manufactures Office, Church and Bank Furniture. flttend tlie Best. GUiGaoo Business Goileo Wabash and Randolph St. (S. W. Corner.) New elegant building. Kiner apartments th any other Commercial School in the United States. SUMMER TERM for public scho pupils opens July 5. Two mont $10.00. SPECIAL BUSINESS or SHOP' HAND COURSE for teache opens July 5. 2 mos. $15.00. Send for Catalogue. GONDRING & VIRDEN, Prin. R Nussbaumer & Soi TAXIDERMISTS, J8 S. Desplaines St., CHICAGO. Birds, Animals, Etc., Stuffed to Order and for S< Specialties m this line put up in most Artistic manner at Low Prices Supplies for Schools, Colleges, and Museums by studying Architecture, Engineering, Electric! Drafting, irtat hematics, Shorthand, Typewrit! English, Penmanship, Bookkeeping, Business, Tel raphy. Plumbing. Best teachers. Thorough ii vidual instruction. Rates lower than any other schi Instruction also by mail in any desired study, t-te engineering a specialty. Call or address, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 151 Throop St., Chict FREE RftBY KftRRiaCE dialogue. Cut this out and send with your name and tddrm, and wo will mail you KRKKour n.-w Mammoth Catalog of liaby CarriaKi's,illii8tralinK KI dilT.TiMitstyl.-- from #2.15. Carriages »ent on 10 vl Free trial: Buy direct and save dealers' profits. XFORD MWSE. lO..SOOHuba.hAvo., CHICAGO. ''"" Nllt s'¥>1 IImv ''"" "" It For tlio Money. Bnitk«Oilbrdlii>|im«181NOKBa»l>|lUol »iih. C"riij.l.t. ..t of «tt«]hm«nta nnd flu»rami'wi for 10 yf»T.. gUl ,,,l.njwh«o,,ii3lM»y.1triul. No mon.y rr.iuii. .1 ii, ..1- . T\(niimwlnii».. W.iiIJ'.K.irMKl.l.worJrf. Hi, v I'n.m f.rtotj. Dew Occasions A ftagazine of Social Progress. EDITED BY FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS. Sixty-four large pages devoted to live topics of popular interest, not onedull paragraph. Editorials, stories, short articles, letters, news items, poetry, humor, puzzles— in short a maga/ine that will delight every one who be lieves in human rights and majority rule. Sample copy 10 rents. Address CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY, 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago. firifWT vritc to Advertisers. BIRDS. ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. VOL. I. MAY, 1897. No. 5. NESTING TIME. " There swims no goose so gray, but soon or late, She takes some honest gander for a mate ;" There live no birds, however bright or plain, But rear a brood to take their place again. — C. C. M. UITE the jolliest season of the year, with the birds, is when they begin to require a home, either as a shelter from the weather, a defence against their enemies, or a place to rear and protect their young. May is not the only month in which they build their nests, some of our favorites, indeed, waiting till June, and even July; but as it is the time of the year when a general awakening to life and activity is felt in all nature, and the early migrants have come back, not to re-visit, but to re-establish their tempo rarily deserted homes, we naturally fix upon the first real spring month as the one in which their little hearts are filled with titillations of joy and anticipation. In May, when the trees have put on their fullest dress of green, and the little nests are hidden from all curious eyes, if we could look quite through the waving branches and rustling leaves, we should behold the little mothers sitting upon their tiny eggs in patient happiness, or feeding their young broods, not yet able to flutter away ; while in the leafy month of June, when Nature is perfect in mature beauty, the young may everywhere be seen gracefully imitating the parent birds, whose sole purpose in life seems to be the fulfillment of the admonition to care well for one's own. There can hardly be a higher pleasure than to watch the nest- build ing of birds. See the Wren looking for a convenient cavity in ivy-covered walls, under eaves, or among the thickly growing branches of fir trees, the tiny creature singing with cheerful voice all day long. Observe the Woodpecker tunneling his nest in the limb of a lofty tree, his pickax-like beak finding no difficulty in making its way through the decayed wood, the sound of his pounding, however, accompanied by his shrill whistle, echoing through the grove. But the nest of the Jay: Who can find it? Although a constant prowler about the nests of other birds, he is so wary and secretive that his little home is usually found only by accident. And the Swallow: "He is the bird of return," Michelet prettily says of him. If you will only treat him kindly, says Ruskin, year after year, he comes back to the same niche, and to the same hearth, for his nest. To the same 149 niche ! Think of this a little, as if you heard of it for the first time. But nesting-time with the birds is one of sentiment as well as of industry. The amount of affectation in love- making they are capable of is simply ludicrous. The British Sparrow which, like the poor, we have with us always, is a much more interesting bird in this and other respects than we commonly give him credit for. It is because we see him every day, at the back door, under the eaves, in the street, in the parks, that we are indif ferent to him. Were he of brighter plumage, brilliant as the Bobolink or the Oriole, he would be a welcome, though a perpetual, guest, and we would not, perhaps, seek legislative action for his extermination. If he did not drive away Bluebirds, whose nesting-time and nesting-place are quite the same as his own, we might not discourage his nesting proclivity, although we cannot help recognizing his cheerful chirp with generous crumbs when the snow has covered all the earth and left him desolate. C. C. MARBLE. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN. EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DRESS, BY ITS CHAIRMAN, MRS. FRANK JOHNSON. BIRDS, WINGS AND FEATHERS EMPLOYED AS GARNITURE. From the school-room there should certainly emanate a sentiment which would discourage forever the slaughter of birds for ornament. The use of birds and their plumage is as inartistic as it is cruel and barbarous. THE HALO. " One London dealer in birds received, when the fashion was at its height, a single consignment of thirty-two thousand dead humming birds, and another received at one time, thirty thousand aquatic birds and three hundred thousand pairs of wings." Think what a price to pay, Faces so bright and gay, Just for a hat [ Flowers unvisited, mornings unsung, Sea-ranges bare of the wings that o'erswung — Bared just for that ! Think of the others, too, Others and mothers, too, Bright-Eyes in hat ! Hear you no mother-groan floating in air, Hear you no little moan — birdling's despair — Somewhere for that ? Caught 'mid some mother-work, Torn by a hunter Turk, Just for your hat ! Plenty of mother-heart yet in the world : All the more wings to tear, carefully twirled ! Women want that? Oh, but the shame of it, Oh, but the blame of it, Price of a hat ! Just for a jauntiness brightening the street ! This is your halo — O faces so sweet — Death, and for that!— W. C. GANNETT. 150 ;ol. Chi. Acad. Sc SCREECH OWL. •1* THE SCREECH OWL. I wouldn't let them put my picture last in the book as they did my cousin's picture in March " BIRDS." I told them I would screech if they did. You don't see me as often as you do the Blue-bird, Robin, Thrush and most other birds, but it is because you don't look for me. Like all other owls I keep quiet during the day, but when night comes on, then my day begins. I would just as soon do as the other birds — be busy during the day and sleep during the night — but really I can't. The sun is too bright for my eyes and at night I can see very well. You must have your folks tell you why this is. I like to make my nest in a hollow orchard tree, or in a thick evergreen. Sometimes f I make it in a hay loft. Boys and girls who live in the country know what a hay loft is. People who know me like to have me around, for I catch a good many mice, and rats that kill small chickens. All night long I fly about so quietly that you could not hear me. I search woods, fields, meadows, orchards, and even around houses and barns to get food for my baby owls and their mamma. Baby owls are queer children. They never get enough to eat, it seems. They are quiet all day, but just as soon as the sun sets and twi light gathers, you should see what a wide awake family a nest full of hungry little screech owls can be. Did you ever hear your mam ma say when she couldn't get baby to sleeep at night, that he is like a little owl? You know now what she means. I think I hear my little folks calling for me so I'll be off. Good night to you, and good morning for me. 153 THE ORCHARD ORIOLE. The Orchard Oriole is here. Why has hr come? To cheer, to cheer — C. C. M. / T -/ (^ I HE Orchard Oriole lias a gen- ^ I cral ran^e throughout the (J I United States, spending the winter in Central America. It breeds only in the eastern and central parts of the United States. In Florida it is a summer resident, and is found in greatest abundance in the states bordering the Mississippi Valley. This Oriole appears on our southern border about the first of April, moving leisurely northward to its breeding grounds for a month or six weeks, according to the season, the males pre ceding the females several days. Though a fine bird, and attractive in his manners and attire, he is not so interesting or brilliant as his cousin, the Baltimore Oriole. He is restless and impulsive, but of a pleasant dis position, on good te ms with his neigh bors, and somewhat shy and difficult to observe closely, as he conceals him self in the densest foliage while at rest, or flies quickly about from twig to twig in search of insects, which, during the summer months, are his exclusive diet. The favorite haunts of this very agreeable songster, as his name im plies, are orchards, and when the apple and pear trees are in bloom, and the trees begin to put out their leaves, his notes have an ecstatic character quite the reverse of the mournful lament of the Baltimore species. Some writers speak of his song as confused, but others say this attribute does not apply to his tones, the musician detecting anything but confusion in the rapidity and distinctness of his gushing notes. These may be too quick for the listener to follow, but there is harmony in them. In the Central States hardly an orchard or a garden of any size can be found without these birds. They prefer to build their nests in apple trees. The nest is different, but quite as curiously made as that of the Balti more. It is suspended from a small twig, often at the very extremity of the branches. The outer part of the nest is usually formed of long, tough grass, woven through with as much neatness and in as intricate a manner as if sewed with a needle. The nests are round, open at the top, about four inches broad and three deep. It is admitted that few birds do more good and less harm than our Orchard Oriole, especially to the fruit grower. Most of his food consists of small beetles, plant lice, flies, hairless caterpillars, cabbage worms, grass hoppers, rose bugs, and larvae of all kinds, while the few berries it may help itself to during the short time they last are many times paid for by the great number of insect pests de stroyed, making it worthy the fullest protection. The Orchard Oriole is very social, especially* with the king bird. Most of his time is spent in trees. His flight is easy, swift, and graceful. The female lays from four to six eggs, one each day. She alone sits on the eggs, the male feeding her at intervals. Both parents are devoted to their young. The fall migration begins in the latter part of July or the beginning of August, comparatively few remaining till September. ORCHARD ORIOLE. THE MOTTLED OR "SCREECH" OWL. JGHT WANDERER," as this species of Owl has been appro priately called, appears to be peculiar to America. They are quite scarce in the south, but above the Falls of the Ohio they increase in number, and are numerous in Virginia, Maryland, and all the eastern districts. Its flight, like that of all the owl family, is smooth and noiseless. He may be sometimes seen above the topmost branches of the highest trees in pur suit of large beetles, and at other times he sails low and swiftly over the fields or through the woods, in search of small birds, field mice, moles, or wood rats, on which he chiefly sub sists. The Screech Owl's nest is built in the bottom of a hollow trunk of a tree, from six to forty feet from the ground. A few grasses and feathers are put together and four or five eggs are laid, of nearly globular form and pure white color. This species is a native of the northern regions, arriving here aboutthebeginningof cold weather and frequenting the uplands and moun tain districts in preference to the lower parts of the country. In the daytime the Screech Owl sits with his eyelids half closed, or slowly and alternately opening and shutting, as if suffering from the glare of day ; but no sooner is the sun set than his whole appearance changes ; he be comes lively and animated, his full and globular eyes shine like those of a cat, and he often lowers his head like a cock when preparing to fight, mov ing it from side to side, and also ver tically, as if watching you sharply. In flying, it shifts from place to place "with the silence of a spirit," the plumage of its wings being so ex tremely fine and soft as to occasion little or no vibration of the air. The Owl swallows its food hastily, in large mouthfuls. When the retreat of a Screech Owl, generally a hollow tree or an evergreen in a retired situa tion, is discovered by the Blue Jay and some other birds, an alarm is instantly raised, and the feathered neighbors soon collect and by insults and noisy demonstration compel his owlship to seek a lodging elsewhere. It is surmised that this may account for the circumstance of sometimes finding them abroad during the day on fences and other exposed places. Both red and gray young are often found in the same nest, while the parents may be both red or both gray, the male red and the female gray, or vice versa. The vast numbers of mice, beetles, and vermin which they destroy render the owl a public benefactor, much as he has been spoken against for gratify ing his appetite for small birds. It would be as reasonable to criticise men for indulging in the finer foods pro vided for us by the Creator. They have been everywhere hunted down without mercy or justice. During the night the Screech Owl utters a very peculiar wailing cry, not unlike the whining of a puppy, inter mingled with gutteral notes. The doleful sounds are in great contrast with the lively and excited air of the bird as he utters them. The hoot ing sound, so fruitful of " shudders " in childhood, haunts the memory of many an adult whose earlier years, like those of the writer, were passed amidst rural scenery. 157 THE MARSH HAWK. NE of the most widely dis tributed birds of North America is the Marsh Hawk, according to Wilson, breed ing from the fur regions around Hudson's Bay to Texas, and from Nova Scotia to Oregon and Cal ifornia. Excepting in the Southern portion of the United States, it is abundant everywhere. It makes its appearance in the fur countries about the opening of the rivers, and leaves about the beginning of November. Small birds, mice, fish, worms, arid even snakes, constitute its food, with out much discrimination. It is very expert in catching small green lizards, animals that can easily evade the quickest vision. It is very slow on the wing, flies very low, and in a manner different from all others of the hawk family. Flying near the surface of the water, just above the weeds and canes, the Marsh Hawk rounds its untiring circles hour after hour, darting after small birds as they rise from cover. Their never ending flight, graceful as it is, becomes monotonous to the watcher. Pressed by hunger, they attack even wild ducks. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, where it sweeps over the low lands, sailing near the earth, in search of a kind of mouse very com mon in such situations, it is chiefly known as the Mouse Hawk. In the southern rice fields it is useful in preventing to some extent the ravages of the swarms of Bobolinks. It has been stated that one Marsh Hawk was considered by planters equal to several negroes for alarming the rice birds. This Hawk when feeding is readily approached. The birds nest in low lands near the sea shore, in the barrens, and on the clear table-lands of the Alleghanies, and once a nest was found in a high covered pine barrens of Florida. The Marsh Hawks always keep together after pairing, working jointly in building the nest, in sitting upon the eggs, and in feeding the young. The nest is clumsily made of hay, occasionally lined with feathers, pine needles, and small twigs. It is built on the ground, and contains from three to five eggs of a bluish white color, usually more or less marked with purplish brown blotches. Early May is their breeding time. It will be observed that even the Hawk, rapacious as he undoubtedly is, is a useful bird. Sent for the purpose of keeping the small birds in bounds, he performs his task well, though it may seem to man harsh and tyranical. The Marsh Hawk is an ornament to our rural scenery, and a pleasing sight as he darts silently past in the shadows of falling night. bol. Chi. Acad Scit MARSH HAWK. THE SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. FLYCATCHERS are all interest ing, and many of them are beautiful, but the Scissor- tailed species of Texas is : specially attractive. They are also Lnown as the Swallow- tailed Fly- jatcher, and more frequently as the ! Texan Bird of Paradise." It is a ominon summer resident throughout ;he greater portion of that state and jtie Indian Territory, and its breeding jange extends northward into Southern kansas. Occasionally it is found i southwestern Missouri, western Arkansas, and Illinois. It is accidental i the New England states, the North- i/est Territory, and Canada. It arrives j bout the middle of March and returns b its winter home in Central America i October. Some of the birds remain i the vicinity of Galveston throughout lie year, moving about in small flocks. There is no denying that the grace- Illness of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher iiould well entitle him to the admira- .011 of bird-lovers, and he is certain to e noticed wherever he goes. The png outer tail feathers he can open |nd close at will. His appearance is (lost pleasing to the eye when flutter- jig slowly from tree to tree on the kther open prairie, uttering his lettering notes, "Spee-spee." When (basing each other in play or anger jiese birds have a harsh note like 'Thish-thish," not altogether agree- Ible. Extensive timber land is shunned y this Flycatcher, as it prefers more pen country, though it is often seen i the edges of woods. It is not often *en on the ground, where its move- lents are rather awkward. Its amia- ility and social disposition are ob- ^rved in the fact that several pairs nil breed close to each other in perfect harmony. Birds smaller than itself are rarely molested by it, but it boldly attacks birds of prey. It is a restless bird, constantly on the lookout for passing insects, nearly all of which are caught on the wing and carried to a perch to be eaten. It eats moths, butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers,locusts, cotton worms, and, to some extent, berries. Its usefulness cannot be doubted. According to Major Bendire, these charming creatures seem to be steadily increasing in numbers, being far more common in many parts of Texas, where they are a matter of pride with the people, than they were twenty years ago. The Scissor- tails begin housekeep ing some time after their arrival from Central America, courting and love making occupying much time before the nest is built. They are not hard to please in the selection of a suitable nesting place, almost any tree standing alone being selected rather than a secluded situation. The nest is bulky, commonly resting on an exposed limb, and is made of any material that may be at hand. They nest in oaks, mesquite, honey locust, mulberry, pecan, and magnolia trees, as well as in small thorny shrubs, from five to forty feet from the ground. Rarely molested they become quite tame. Two broods are often raised. The eggs are usually five. They are hatched by the female in twelve days, while the male protects the nest from sus picious intruders. The young are fed entirely on insects and are able to leave the nest in two weeks. The eggs are clear white, with markings of brown, purple, and lavender spots and blotches. 163 CHICKADEE. Bird of the Merry Heart. Here is a picture of a bird that is always merry. He is a bold, saucy little fellow, too, but we all love him for it. Don't you think he looks some like the ' Canada Jay that you saw in April " BIRDS?" I think most of you must have seen him, for he stays with us all the year, summer and winter. If you ever heard him, you surely noticed how plainly he tells you his name. Listen— u Chick-a- dee-dee; Chick-a-dee ; Hear, hear me" -That's what he says as he hops about from twig to twig in search of insects' eggs and other bits for food. No matter how bitter the wind or how deep the snow, he is always around — the same jolly, careless little fellow, chirping and twit tering his notes of good cheer. Like the Yellow Warblers on page 169, Chickadees like best to make their home in an old stump or hole in a tree — not very high from the ground. Some times they dig for themselves a new hole, but this is only when they cannot find one that suits them. The Chickadee is also called Black-capped Titmouse. If you look at his picture you will see his black cap. You'll have to ask someone why he is called Titmouse. I think Chickadee is the prettier name, don't you? If you want to get well acquainted with this saucy little bird, you want to watch for him next winter, when most of the birds have gone south. Throw him crumbs of bread and he \vill soon be so tame as to come right up to the door step. 164 Chi. Acad. Sciences. CHICKADEE. THE BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. "Chic-chickadee dee !" I saucily say; My heart it is sound, my throat it is gay! Every one that I meet I merrily greet With a chickadee dee, chickadee dee! To cheer and to cherish, on roadside and street, My cap was made jaunty, my note was made sweet. Chickadeedee, Chickadeedee! No bird of the winter so merry and free; Yet sad is my heart, though my song one of glee, For my mate ne'er shall hear my Chickadeedee. I "Chickadeedee" in forest and glade, "Day, day, day!" to the sweet country maid; From autumn to spring- time I utter my song Of Chickadeedee all the day long! The silence of winter my note breaks in twain, And I "Chickadeedee" in sunshine and rain. Chickadeedee Chickadeedee! No bird of the winter so merry and free; Yet sad is my heart, though my song one of glee, For my mate ne'er shall hear my Chickadeedee. — C. C. M. SAUCY little bird, so active and familiar, the Black- Capped Chickadee, is also b V recognized as the Blac"k Capped Titmouse, East ern Chickadee, and Northern Chick adee. He is found in the southern half of the eastern United States, north to or beyond forty degrees, west to eastern Texas and Indian Territory. The favorite resorts of the Chickadee are timbered districts, especially in the bottom lands, and where there are red bud trees, in the soft wood of which it excavates with ease a hollow for its nest. It is often wise enough, however, to select a cavity already made, as the deserted hole of the Downy Woodpecker, a knot hole, or a hollow fence rail. In the winter sea son it is very familiar, and is seen about door yards and orchards, even in towns, gleaning its food from the kitchen remnants, where the table cloth is shaken, and wherever it may chance to find a kindly hospitality. In an article on "Birds as Protectors of Orchards," Mr. E. H. Forbush says of the Chickadee : "There is no bird that compares with it in destroying the female canker-worm moths and their eggs." He calculated that one Chickadee in one day 'would destroy 5,550 eggs, and in the twenty-five days in which the canker-worm moths run or crawl up the trees 138,750 eggs. Mr. Forbush attracted Chickadees to one orchard by feeding them in winter, and he says that in the following summer it was noticed that while trees in neighboring orchards were seriously damaged by canker-worms, and to alessdegree by tent caterpillars, those in the orchard which had been frequented by the Chickadee during the winter and spring were not seriously infested, and that compara tively few of the worms and caterpillars were to be found there. His conclu sion is that birds that eat eggs of insects are of the greatest value to the farmer, as they feed almost entirely on injurious insects and their eggs, and are present all winter, where other birds are absent. The tiny nest of the Chickadee is made of all sorts of soft materials, such as wool, fur, feathers, and hair placed in holes in stumps of trees. Six to eight eggs are laid, which are white, thickly sprinkled with warm brown. Mrs. Osgood Wright tells a pretty incident of the Chickadees, thus: "In the winter of 1891-2, when the cold was severe, the snow deep, and the tree trunks often covered with ice, the Chickadees repaired in flocks daily to the kennel of our old dog Colin and fed from his dish, hopping over his back and calling Chickadee, dee, dee, in his face, a proceeding that he never in the least resented, but seemed rather to enjoy it." 167 PROTHONOTARY YELLOW WARBLERS. Quite a long name for such small birds — don't you think so? You will have to get your teacher to repeat it several times, I fear, before you learn it. These little yellow warblers are just as happy as the pair of wrens I showed you in April u BIRDS." In fact, I suspect they are even happier, for their nest has been made and the eggs laid. What do you think of their house? Sometimes they find an old hole in a stump, one that a woodpecker has left, perhaps, and there build a nest. This year they have found a very pretty place to begin their house keeping. What kind of tree is it? I thought I would show only the part of the tree that makes their home. I just be lieve some boy or girl who loves birds made those holes for them. Don't you think so? They have an upstairs and a down stairs, it seems. Like the Wrens I wrote about- last month, they prefer to live in swampy land and along rivers. They nearly always find a hole in a decayed willow tree for their nest — low down. This isn't a willow tree, though. Whenever I show you a pair of birds, always pick out the father and the mother bird. You will usually find that one has more color than the, other. Which one is it? Maybe you know why this is. If you don't, I am sure your teacher can tell" you. Don't you remember in the Bobolink family how differently Mr. and Mrs. Bobolink were dressed? I think most of you will agree with me when I say this is one of the prettiest pictures you ever saw. 1 68 ^ : no coi. Chi. Acad. Sciences. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. THE PROTHONTARY, OR GOLDEN SWAMP WARBLER. HE Golden Swamp Warbler is one of the very handsomest of American birds, being noted for the pureness and mellow- ne.-s of its plumage. Baird notes that the habits of this beautiful and inter esting warbler were formerly little known, its geographical distribution being somewhat irregular and over a narrow range. It is found in the West Indies and Central America as a mi grant, and in the southern region of the United States. Further west the range widens, and it appears as far north as Kansas, Central Illinois, and Missouri. Its favorite resorts are creeks and lagoons overshadowed by large trees, as well as the borders of sheets of water and the interiors of forests. It returns early in March to the Southern states, but to Kentucky not before the last of April, leaving in October. A single brood only is raised in a season. A very pretty nest is sometimes built within a Woodpecker's hole in a stump of a tree, not more than three feet high. Where this occurs the nest is not shaped round, but is made to conform to the irregular cavity of the stump. This cavity is deepest at one end, and the nest is closely packed with dried leaves, broken bits of grasses, stems, mosses, decayed wood, and other material, the upper part interwoven with fine roots, varying in size, but all strong, wiry, and slender, and lined with hair. Other nests have been discovered which were circular in shape. In one instance the nest was built in a brace hole in a mill, where the birds could be watched closely as they carried in the materials. They were not alarmed by the presence of the observer but seemed quite tame. So far from being noisy and vocifer ous, Mr. Ridgway describes it as one of the most silent of all the warblers, while Mr. W. Brewster maintains that in restlessness few birds equal this species. Not a nook or corner of his domain but is repeatedly visited during the day. " Now he sings a few times from the top of some tall willow that leans out over the stream, sitting motionless among the marsh foliage, fully aware, perhaps, of the protection afforded by his harmonizing tints. The next moment he descends to the cool shadows beneath, where dark, coffee- colored waters, the overflow of a pond or river, stretch back among the trees. Here he loves to hop about the floating drift-wood, wet by the lapping of pul sating wavelets, now following up some long, inclining, half submerged log, peeping into every crevice and occas ionally dragging forth from its con cealment a spider or small beetle, turn ing alternately its bright yellow breast and olive back towards the light; now jetting his beautiful tail, or quivering his wings tremulously, he darts off into some thicket in response to a call from his mate ; or, flying to a neigh boring tree trunk, clings for a moment against the mossy hole to pipe his little strain, or look up the exact where abouts of some suspected insect prize." 171 THE INDIGO BUNTING. HE Indigo Bunting's arrival at its summer home is usually in the early part of May, where it remains until about the middle of September. It is numer ous in the eastern and middle states, inhabiting the continent and seacoast islands from Mexico, where they winter, to Nova Scotia. It is one of the very smallest of our birds, and also one of the most attractive. Its favorite haunts are gardens, fields of deep clover, the borders of woods, and roadsides, where, like the Woodpecker, it is frequently seen perched on the fences. It is extremely active and neat in its manners and an untiring singer, morning, noon, and night his rapid chanting being heard, sometimes loud and sometimes hardly audible, as if he were becoming quite exhausted by his musical efforts. He mounts the highest tops of a large tree and sings for half an hour together. The song is not one uninterrupted strain, but a repe tition of short notes, " commencing loud and, rapid, and full, and by almost imperceptible gradations for six or eight seconds until they seem hardly articulated, as if the little minstrel were unable to stop, and, after a short pause, beginning again as before." Baskett says that in cases of serenade and wooing he may mount the tip sprays of tall trees as he sings and abandon all else to melody till the engrossing business is over. The Indigo Bird sings with equal animation whether it be May or August, the vertical sun of the dog days having no diminishing effect upon his enthusiasm. It is well known that in certain lights his plum age appears of a rich sky blue, varying to a tint of vivid verdigris green, so that the bird, flitting from one place to another, appears to undergo an entire change of color. The Indigo Bunting fixes his nest in a low bush, long rank grass, grain, or clover, suspended by two twigs, flax being the material used, lined with fine dry grass. It had been known, however, to build in the hollow of an apple tree. The eggs, generally five, are bluish or pure white. The same nest is often occupied season after season. One which had been used for five successive summers, was repaired each year with the same material, matting that the birds had evidently taken from the covering of grape vines. The nest was very neatly and thoroughly lined with hair. The Indigo feeds upon the ground, his food consisting mainly of the seed of small grasses and herbs. The male while moulting assumes very nearly the color of the female, a dull brown, the rich plumage not returning for two or three months. Mrs. Osgood Wright says of this tiny creature: " Like all the bright-hued birds he is beset by enemies both of earth and sky, but his sparrow instinct, which has a love for mother earth, bids him build near the ground. The dangers of the nesting-time fall mostly to his share, for his dull brown mate is easily overlooked as an insignificant sparrow. Nature always gives a plain coat to the wives of these gayly dressed cavaliers, for her primal thought is the safety of the home and its young life." 172 INDIGO BUNTING. THE NIGHT HAWK. HE range of the Night Hawk, also known as " Bull-bat," "Mosquito Hawk," "Will o' the Wisp," "Pisk," "Piram- and sometimes erroneously as "Whip-poor-will," being frequently mistaken for that bird, is an extensive one. It is only a summer visitor throughout the United States and Canada, generally arriving from its winter haunts in the Bahamas, or Central and South America in the latter part of April, reaching the more northern parts about a month later, and leaving the latter again in large straggling flocks about the end of August, moving leisurely southward and disappearing gradually along our southern border about the latter part of October. Major Bendire says its migrations are very extended and cover the greater part of the American continent. The Night Hawk, in making its home, prefers a well timbered country. Its common name is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is not nocturnal in its habits. It is not an uncommon sight to see numbers of these birds on the wing on bright sunny days, but it does most of its hunting in cloudy weather, and in the early morning and evening, returning to rest soon after dark. On bright moonlight nights it flies later, and its calls are sometimes heard as late as eleven o'clock. "This species is one of the most graceful birds on the wing, and its aerial evolutions are truly wonderful ; one moment it may be seen soaring through space without any apparent movement of its pinions, and again its swift flight is accompanied by a good deal of rapid flapping of the wings, like that of Falcons, and this is more or less .varied by numerous twistings and turnings. While constantly darting here and there in pursuit of its prey," says a traveler, "I have seen one of these birds shoot almost perpendicularly upward after an insect, with the swiftness of an arrow. The Night Hawk's tail appears to assist it greatly in these sudden zigzag changes, being partly expanded during most of its compli cated movements." Night Hawks are sociable birds, especially on the wing, and seem to enjoy each other's company. Their squeaking call note, sounding like "Speek-speek," is repeated at intervals. These aerial evolutions are principally confined to the mating season. On the ground the movements of this Hawk are slow, unsteady, and more or less laborious. Its food consists mainly of insects, such as flies and mosquitos, small beetles, grass-hoppers, and the small night-flying moths, all of which are caught on the wing. A useful bird, it deserves the fullest protection. The favorite haunts of the Night Hawk are the edges of forests and clearings, burnt tracts, meadow lands along river bottoms, and cultivated fields, as well as the flat mansard roofs in many of our larger cities, to which it is attracted by the large amount of food found there, especially about electric lights. During the heat of the day the Night Hawk may be seen resting on limbs of trees, fence rails, the flat surface of lichen-covered rock, on stone walls, old logs, chimney tops, and on railroad tracks. It is very rare to find it on the ground. The nesting-time is June and July. No nest is made, but two eggs are deposited on the bare ground, fre quently in very exposed situations, or in slight depressions on flat rocks, between rows of corn, and the like. ! Only one brood is raised. The birds j sit alternately for about sixteen days. I There is endless variation in the marking of the eggs, and it is con sidered one of the most difficult to describe satisfactorily. THE NIGHT HAWK. As you will see from my name, I am a bird of the night. Day time is not at all pleasing to me because of its brightness and noise. I like the cool, dark evenings when the insects fly around the house-tops. They are my food and it needs a quick bird to catch them. If you will notice my flight, you will see it is swift and graceful. When hunting insects we go in a crowd. It is seldom that people see us be cause of the darkness. Often we stay near a stream of water, for the fog which rises in the night hides us from the insects on which we feed. None of us sing well — we have only a few doleful notes which frighten people who do not understand our habits. In the daytime we seek the darkest part of the woods, and perch lengthwise on the branches of trees, just as our cousins the Whippoorwills do. We. could perch crosswise just as well. Can you think why we do not? If there be no woods near, we just roost upon the ground. Our plumage is a mottled brown — the same color of the bark on which we rest. Our eggs are laid on the ground, for we do not care to build nests. There are only two of them, dull white with grayish brown marks on them. Sometimes we lay our eggs on flat roofs in cities, and stay there during the day, but we prefer the country where there is good pasture land. I think my cousin Whippoorwill is to talk to you next month. People think we are very much alike. You can judge for yourself when you see his picture. 176 THE WOOD THRUSH. "With what a clear And ravishing sweetness sang the plaintive Thrush ; I love to hear his delicate rich voice, Chanting through all the gloomy day, when loud Amid the trees is dropping the big rain, And gray mists wrap the hill ; foraye the sweeter His song is when the day is sad and dark." O many common names has the Wood Thrush that he would seem to be quite well known to every one. Some call him the Bell Thrush, others Bell Bird, others again Wood Robin, and the French Canadians, who love his delicious song, Greve des Bois and Merle Taune. In spite of all this, however, and although a common species through out the temperate portions of eastern North America, the Wood Thrush can hardly be said to be a well-known bird in the same sense as the Robin, the Cat-bird, or other more familiar species ; " but to every inhabitant of rural districts his song, at least, is known, since it is of such a character that no one with the slightest appre ciation of harmony can fail to be impressed by it." Some writers maintain that the Wood Thrush has a song of a richer and more melodious tone than that of any other American bird ; and that, did it possess continuity, would be incomparable. Damp woodlands and shaded dells are favorite haunts of this Thrush, but on some occasions he will take up his residence in parks within large cities. He is not a shy bird, yet it is not often that he ventures far from the wild wood of his preference. The nest is commonly built upon a horizontal branch of a low tree, from six to ten — rarely much more — feet from the ground. The eggs are from three to five in number, of a uniform greenish color; thus, like the nest, resembling those of the Robin, except that thev are smaller. In spite of the fact that his name indicates his preference for the woods, we have seen this Thrush, in parks and gardens, his brown back and spotted breast making him unmistakable as he hops over the grass for a few yards, and pauses to detect the movement of a worm, seizing it vigorously a moment after. He eats ripening fruits, especially strawberries and gooseberries, but no bird can or does destroy so many snails, and he is much less an enemy than a friend of the gardener. It would be well if our park commis sioners would plant an occasional fruit tree — cherry, apple, and the like — in the public parks, protecting them from the ravages of every one except the birds, for whose sole benefit they should be set aside. The trees would also serve a double purpose of orna ment and use, and the youth who grow up in the city, and rarely ever see an orchard, would become familiar with the appearance of fruit trees. The birds would annually increase in numbers, as they would not only be attracted to the parks thereby, but they would build their nests and rear their young under far more favorable conditions than now exist. The criti cism that birds are too largely de stroyed by hunters should be supple mented by the complaint that they are also allowed to perish for want of food, especially in seasons of unusual scarcity or severity. Food should be scattered through the parks at proper times, nesting boxes provided — not a few, but many — and then The happy mother of every brood Will twitter notes of gratitude. 179 THE WOOD THRUSH. The Bird of Solitude. Of all the Thrushes this one is probably the most beautiful. I think the picture shows it. Look at his mottled neck and breast. Notice his large bright eye. Those who have studied birds think he is the most intel ligent of them all. He is the largest of the Thrushes and has more color in his plumage. All who have heard him agree that he is one of the sweetest singers among birds. Unlike the Robin, Catbird, or Brown Thrush, he enjoys being heard and not seen. His sweetest song may be heard in the cool of the morning or evening. It is then that his rich notes, sounding like a flute, are heard from the deep wood. The weather does not affect his song. Rain or shine, wet or dry, he sings, and sings, and sings. During the light of day the Wood Thrush likes to stay in the cool shade of the woods. Along toward evening, after sun set, when other birds are settling themselves for the night, out of the wood you will hear his even ing song. It begins with a strain that sounds like, "Come with me," and by the time he finishes you are in love with his song. The Wood Thrush is very quiet in his habits. So different from the noisy, restless Catbird. The only time that he is noisy is when his young are in danger. Then he is as active as any of them. A Wood Thrush's nest is very much like a Robin's. It is made of leaves, rootlets and fine twigs woven together with an inner wall of mud, and lined with fine rootlets. The eggs, three to five, are much like the Robin's. Compare the picture of the Wood Thrush with that of the Robin or Brown Thrush and see which you think is the prettiest. 180 THE AMERICAN CATBIRD. HE CATBIRD derives his name from a fancied resemblance of some of his notes to the mew of the domestic cat. He is a native of America, and is one of the most familiarly known of our famous songsters. He is a true thrush, and is one of the most affectionate of our birds. Wilson has well described his nature, as follows : u In passing through the woods in summer I have sometimes amused myself with imitating the violent chirping or clucking of young birds, in order to observe what different species were round me; for such sounds at such a season in the woods are no less alarming to the feathered tenants of the bushes than the cry of fire or murder in the street is to the inhabi tants of a large city. On such occasion of alarm and consternation, the Cat bird is first to make his appearance, not single but sometimes half a dozen at a time, flying from different quarters to the spot. At this time those who are disposed to play on his feelings may almost throw him into a fit, his emotion and agitation are so great at what he supposes to be the distressful cries of his young. He hurries back ward and forward, with hanging wings, open mouth, calling out louder and faster, and actually screaming with distress, until he appears hoarse with his exertions. He attempts no offen sive means, but he wails, he implores, in the most pathetic terms with which nature has supplied him, and with an agony of feeling which is truly affect ing. At any other season the most perfect imitations have no effect what ever on him." The Catbird is a courageous little creature, and in defense of its young it is so bold that it will contrive to drive away any snake that may approach its nest, snakes being its special aversion. His voice is mellow and rich, and is a compound of many of the gentle trills and sweet undulations of our various woodland choristers, delivered with apparent caution, and with all the attention and softness necessary to enable the per former to please the ear of his mate. Each cadence passes on without falter ing and you are sure to recognize the song he so sweetly imitates. While they are are all good singers, occa sionally there is one which excels all his neighbors, as is frequently the case among canaries. The Catbird builds in syringa bushes, and other shrubs. In New England he is best known as a garden bird. Mabel Osgood Wright, in " Birdcraft," says : " I have found it nesting in all sorts of places, from an alder bush, overhanging a lonely brook, to a scrub apple in an open field, never in deep woods, and it is only in its garden home, and in the hedging bushes of an adjoining field, that it develops its best qualities — 'lets itself out,' so to speak. The Catbirds in the garden are so tame that they will frequently perch on the edge of the hammock in which I am sitting, and when I move they only hop away a few feet with a little flutter. The male is undoubtedly a mocker, when he so desires, but he has an individual and most delightful song, filled with unexpected turns and bouyant melody." 183 THE CATBIRD. What do you think of this nest of eggs ? What do you suppose Mrs. Catbird's thoughts are as she looks at them so tenderly? Don't you think she was very kind to let me take the nest out of the hedge where I found it, so you could see the pretty greenish blue eggs ? I shall place it back where I got it. Catbirds usually build their nests in hedges, briars, or bushes, so they are never very high from the ground. Did you ever hear the Catbird sing? He is one of the sweetest singers and his song is some thing like his cousin's, the Brown Thrush, only not so loud. He can imitate the songs of other birds and the sounds of many animals. He can mew like a cat, and it is for this reason that he is called u Catbird." His sweetest song, though, is soft and mellow and is sung at just such times as this — when think ing of the nest, the eggs, or the young. The Catbird is a good neigh bor among birds. If any other bird is in trouble of any sort, he will do all he can to relieve it. He will even feed and care for little birds whose parents have left them. Don't you think he ought to have a prettier name ? Now remember, the Catbird is a Thrush. I want you to keep track of all the Thrushes as they appear in u BIRDS." I shall try to show you a Thrush each month. Next month you shall see the sweetest singer of American birds. He, too, is a Thrush. I wonder if you know what bird I mean. Ask your mamma to buy you a book called " Bird Ways." It was written by a lady who spent years watching and study ing birds. She tells so many cute things about the Catbird. From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences. ATBIRD. Amateur P^hotography. 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A tripod socket is also provided so that it can be used for hand or tripod work as desired. All complicated adjustments have been dispensed with so that the instrument can be manipulated with ease by the youngest ama^ teur. Full and explicit instruc tions are sent with each camera. FLASH LIGHT PICTURE MADE WITH "DEXTER" CAMERA. Sen(j jf stamps for sample pict- The "Dexter" ure and descriptive circulars. Camera. Sent to any address in U. S. or Canada upon receipt of $4.OO. Send by P. O. Money Order or Express Order. Makes pictures 3^x3^ inches square. Measures 4/^x5^x7. Weighs only 15 ounces. SEARS JEWELRY CO., General Agents, 225 Dearborn St., Chicago, III. Manufacturers, Importers and Dealers In Jewelry, Watches, Diamonds and Novelties. Sole Agents for the South African Off-Color Diamonds, ($3.00 per carat, unmounted), end Manufacturers Agents ard Introducers of Novelties to the trade and street men. TEACHERS' CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. ioi Auditorium Building:, CHICAGO, ILL. Positions filled, 3,700. Seeks Teachers ambitious for advancement, rather than those without positions. Martin G.Good photographic IM AMATEUR Supplies ||\7 HEADeilAKTERS ft v ^Developing and Prinlintj P'i f,f Mail orders .solicited \ «fc STEWART BlIILUINO P2 Stale St CHICAGO EARN A BICYCLE 6OO Second Hand Wheels. III. "akes. GOODASNKW. *5to*15. New High Uraue '96 models, fully guaranteed, $17 iu $25. Special Clearintf Sale. [Ship anywhere on approval, will elve a responsible acent wn FREE USE of sample wheel . Our reputation la Write at once for our special offer. to Introdu P. R. MEAD & PRENTISS, Chicago, III. ILLINOIS MEDICAL COLLEGE. The Chicago Summer School of Medicine. Co-Educational. Incorporated by the State of Illinois. Sessions open early in March, and last six months. For information, address, R. N. HALL, M. D., President, T. J. M. ANGEAR, A. M., M. D., Treasurer, H. H. BROWN, M. D., Secretary, or W. F. WAUGH, A. M., M D., Dean. 103 State St., Chicago. In Improvements — The Leader* In Construction — Mechanically Correct. In Operation — Simple and Satisfactory. SEND FOR PREMIER NEW PICTORIAL CATALOGUE. CbcSmitbPrcmicrtypcwritcrCo, SYRACUSE, N. Y., U. S. A. Branch Offices in 42 Principal Cities in the United States and England. CHICAGO OFFICE, 154 MONROE ST. I'lease mention •• BIRDS' NO SHADED LETTERS! NO WORD SIGNS! STIDGER'S SHORTHAND. Shortest, Easiest, Quickest Learned, and Most Rapidly Written System in the world. Learn d in one montn. STIDGER, 184 Dearborn St .Chicago Taught hv mail. Send for circular. The Whitely Exerciser. For Health, Strength, and Beauty. Send for illustrated pamphlet. Complete machine, prepaid, $3.00. WHITELY EXERCISER CO. 154 Lake St, CHICAGO. Gold and Silver Watches, Bicycles, Tricycles, Guns and Pistols, I arst, Buggies, Wagons, Carriages, Safes, : jiglis, Harness, Uart lops, Skids, Senin? Machines, Accord cons, Orenns, Pianos, Cider Cash Drawers, Feed Mills, Slmes, Ketllos, Bone Hill-., Letter Presses. Jar k Screws, Trucks, Anvils, HayCntters, Press Stands, Copy Books, Vises, Drills, Road Plows, Lawn Mowers, ('nlfee Klills, I/n(hra, Benders, DumpCarts, Corn Shellers. Hand Carts. Forges. Scrapers, Wire Fence, Fanntns Mills, Wringers, Eneines, Sans, Steel Sinks, Grain Dumps. Crow liars, Boilers, Tools, Bit Braces, lla.v, Stock, Elevator. Kal'.-oad, Platform and Counter SCALES. Send for free Catalogue and see how to nave Money. 151 Bo. Jefferson St... CHICAGO SCALE CO., Chicago, 111. PRICE $8.90. Now is your Opportunity. Regular size, finest quality. Full i4-karat gold filled, 2oyearcase, fitted with Elgin or Waltham gilded works; full jeweled top plate, and ail modern im provements; hunting cases; stem wind and stem set. An elegant and reliable time keeper at a low price. Guaranteed for2oyears in every particular. Sent C. O. D. subject to examination on receipt of 50 cents, which amount will be deducted from your bill. LUCKY PIN Gold or Oxidized Silver, with Emerald or Ruby Eyes. Perfect imita tion of Skull and Crossbones. Very popular- Sells at sight. Special terms to agents. Sample by mail, 25 cents. Send for catalogue of Jewelry, Watches, Novelties, Etc. CULLEN & LAWRENCE, 225 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO, ILL. ,\heu ymi write to Advert! AAAAAT LADB FAVOBIlt tAMOMGI AND MONADCH CYCLt M'F'C (0. CHICAGO • NEW.YORK.v- LONDON Please mention ''BIRDS ' when you write to advertisers. $1 2 K -*~g£* 5 £°w S-PE' o at; w -g s-a sp D W 2 U "™*^ ' §1 «&%& oo-* r o S w w WJ S •*• "* vJ o ^ ,4vVo -2 S J5 <3 v> W _j txc/0 ^r bo ?iJ!IIliiliMll ite to advertisers. THE.. $75.00 Or Ninety Subscriptions to "Birds." DIAMOND OR DROP FRAME. This wheel is made especially for the Nature Study Publishing Co., to be used as a premium. It is unique in design, of material the best, of workmanship unexcelled. No other wheel on the market can compare favorably with it for less than Sioo.oo. SPECIFICATIONS FOR 1897 "BIRD" BICYCLE. Frame. — Diamond pattern; cold-drawn seamless steel tubing; il/g inch tubing in the quadrangle with the exception of the head, which is i${ inch. Height, 23, 24, 25 and 26 inches. Rear triangle % inch tubing in the lower and upright bars. Frame Parts.— Steel drop forgings, strongly reinforced connections. Forks. — Seamless steel fork sides, gracefully curved and mechanically reinforced. Steering Head. — 9, n and 13 inches long, i% inches diameter. Handle Bar. — Cold-drawn, weldless steel tubing, % inch in diameter, ram's horn, upright or reversible, adapted to two positions; Handles.— Cork or corkaline; black, maroon or bright tips. Wheels.— 28 inch, front and rear. Wheel Base. — 43 inches. Rims.— Olds or Plymouth. Tires.— Morgan & Wright, Vim, or Hartford. Spokes. — Swaged, Excelsior Needle Co.'s best quality; 28 in front and 3-2 in rear wheel. Cranks. — Special steel, round and tapered; 6% inch throw. Pedals.— Brandenburg; others on order. Chain.— % inch, solid link, with hardened rivet steel centers. Saddle.— Black, attractive and comfortable; our own make. Saddle Post.— Adjustable, style "T." Tread.— 4% inches. Sprocket Wheels.— Steel drop forgings, hardened. Gear.— 68 regular; other gears furnished if so desired. Bearings. — Made of the best selected high-grade tool steel, carefully ground to a finish after tempering, and thoroughly dust-proof. All cups are screwed into hubs and crank hangers. Hubs.— Large tubular hubs, made from a solid bar of steel. Furnishing. — Tool-bag, wrench, oiler, pump and repair kit. Tool Bags.— In black or tan leather, as may be preferred. Handle bar, hubs, sprocket wheels, cranks, pedals, seat post, spokes, screws, nuts and washers, nickel plated over copper; remainder enameled. Weight. — 22 and 24 pounds. Send for Specifications for Diamond Frame. OTHER PREMIUMS OFFERED. "Bird" Wheel No. 2, '97 model, Price $60.00, given for 70 subscriptions to "Birds." Boys' "Bird" or Girls' ''Bird," '97 model, Price 845.00, given for 50 subscriptions to "Birds." The M'onarch '97 Model Bicycle, '. Price 8100.00, given for 150 subscriptions to "Birds." The Racycle, Narrow Tread, '97 model, Price $100.00, given for 150 subscriptions to "Birds." The "Dexter" Camera. Pictures 3% x $4.00, or eight subscriptions to "Birds. "DEXTER" CAMERA. Produces portraits, landscapes, groups and flashlights better than many higher priced instruments. It will hold three double plate holder with a capacity of six dry plates. It is covered with black morocco grain leather, and provided with finder. Send for full description. Price 84.00, or eight subscriptions to "Birds." Photake Camera. Pictures 2x2, portraits, landscapes, flash light. Price 82.50, or six subscriptions to "Birds." The "Lakeside" Tennis Racket. Price 84.00, or nine subscrip- Price 83.30, or seven sub- tions to "Birds.' The "Greenwood" Tennis Racket, scriptions to "Birds." he Crown Fountain Pen Price 82.25, given for three subscriptions to "Birds." The Stav-Lit Bicycle Lamp, Price 82.50, given for five subscriptions to "Birds." Youth's'Compaiiion and Reversible Blackboard, Price 83.50, given for eight subscriptions to "Birds." Webster's International Dictionary — sheep— indexed, Price 810.75, twenty annual subscriptions to "Birds." Oxford Bibles, Prices $3.70 to 810.70, given for seven to twenty annual subscriptions to "Birds." The Twentieth Century Library, Price, each $i oo, given for two annual subscriptions to "Birds." Tuxedo Edition of Poets, Price, each $i oo, given for two annual subscriptions to "Birds." The Story of the Birds, i2mo., cloth Price 6sc, given for three annual subscriptions to "Birds." We call special attention to The Story of the Birds, by James Newton Baskett, M. A., as an interesting book to be read in connection with our magazine, "BIRDS." It is well written and finely illustrated. Persons interested in Bird Day should have one of these books. We can furnish nearly any book of the Poets or Fiction or School Books as premiums to ' ' BIRDS." We can furnish almost any article on the market as premiums for subscriptions to " BIRDS." either fancy or sporting goods, musical instruments, including high-grade pianos, or any book pub lished in this country. We will gladly quote price or number of subscriptions necessary. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING CO. jents Wanted in every Town and City to represent " BIRDS." CHICAGO. Premiums given lor Subscriptions lor " Birds." The Quad" Camera Known the world around Takes pictures 3^ x 3^2 inches. Has the simplest action. Is easy to handle. Quickest to reload. Uses glass plates. Never gets out of order. Neat and durable. Given for 9 Subscriptions for "Birds," or sold on receipt of price. Anyone can secure ninesub- criptions for our beautiful magazine. Price $3.00. Given for Five Subscriptions for " Birds." $5.00, or Nine Subscriptions for "Birds " The Odorless Standard Cycle Lamp " The Lamp of the Season " None better. Highly finished. Hand-ground Lens. Perfect Reflector. Burns benzine or kerosene. Filled from the outside. "Outshines them all," and always stays lit. Who can't get five acquaintances to take "Birds" for one year at $1.50? We give below a list of publications, especially fine, to be read in connection with our new- magazine, and shall be glad to supply them at the price indicated, or as premiums for subscrip" tions for " Birds." "Birds Through an Opera Glass " " Bird Ways " . "In Nesting Time " " A Bird Lover of the West " . " Upon the Tree Tops " "Wake Robin" .... " Birds in the Bush " " A-Birding on a Bronco " " Land Birds and Game Birds of New England ' " Birds and Poets " .... "Bird Craft" .... ' ' The Story of the Birds " . Hand Book of Birds of Eastern North America " 3.00 " 7 75C. or 2 subscriptions. 6oc. "2 " $1-25 " 3 3 3 3 3 3 8 3 1-25 1-25 1. 00 1-25 1-25 3-50 1-25 3.00 .65 3.00 See our notice on another page concerning Bic}Tdes. Our " Bird " Wheel is one of the best on the market — as neat and attractive as " Birds." We shall be glad to quote a special price for teachers or clubs. We can furnish any article or book as premium for subscriptions for " Birds." Address, Nature Study Publishing Co. = = = Chicago, 111. 'HE Nature Study Publishing Company is a corporation of educators and business men organ ized to furnish correct reproductions of the colors and forms of nature to families, schools, and scientists. Having secured the services of artists who have succeeded in photo graphing and reproducing objects in their natural colors, by a process whose principles are well known but in which many of the details are held secret, we obtained a charter from the Secre tary of State in November, 1896, and began at once the preparation of photographic color plates for a series of pictures of birds. The first product was the January number of "BIRDS," a monthly magazine, containing ten plates with descriptions in popular language, avoiding as far as possible scientific and technical terms. Knowing the interest children have in our work, we have included in each number a few pages of easy text pertaining to the illustrations. These are usually set facing the plates to heighten the pleasure of the little folks as they read. Casually noticed, the magazine may appear to be a children's publication because of the placing of this juvenile text. But such is not the case. Those scientists who cherish with delight the famous handiwork of Audubon are no less enthusiastic over these beautiful pictures which are painted by the delicate and scientifically accurate fingers of Light itself. These reproductions are true. There is no imagination in them nor conventionialisn. In the presence of their absolute truth any written description or work of human hands shrinks into insignificance. The scientific value of these photographs can not be estimated. To establish a great magazine with a world-wide circulation is no light undertaking. We have been steadily and successfully working towards that end. Delays have been unavoidable. What was effective for the production of a limited number of copies was inadequate as our orders increased. The very success of the enterprise has sometimes impeded our progress. Ten hundred teachers in Chicago paid subscriptions in ten days. Boards of Education are subscribing in hundred lots. Improvements in the process have been made in almost every number, and we are now assured of a brilliant and useful future. When "BIRDS" has won its proper place in public favor we shall be prepared to issue a similar serial on other natural objects, and look for an equally cordial reception for it. PREMIUMS. To teachers we give duplicates of all the pictures on separate sheets for use in teaching or for decoration. To other subscribers we give a color photograph of one of the most gorgeous birds, the Golden Pheasant. Subscriptions, $1.50 a year including one premium. Those wishing both premiums may receive them and a year's subscription for $2.00. We have just completed an edition of 50,000 back numbers to accommodate those who wish their subscriptions to date back to January, 1897, the first number. We will furnish the first volume, January to June inclusive, well bound in cloth, postage paid, for $1.25. In Morocco, $2.25. AGENTS. 10,000 agents are wanted to travel or solicit at home. We have prepared a fine list of desirable premiums for clubs which any popular adult or child can easily form. Your friends will thank you for showing them the magazine and offering to send their money. The work of getting subscribers among acquaintances is easy and delightful. Agents can do well selling the bound volume. Vol. i is the best possible present for a young person or for anyone specially interested in nature. Teachers and others meeting them at institutes do well as our agents. The magazine sells to teachers better than any other publication because they can use the extra plates for decoration, language work, nature study, and individual occupation. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 277 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO. THE GOLDEN PHEASANT, a picture of wonderful beauty, almost life-size, in a natural scene, plate J3 x J8 inches, on card 19 x 25 inches, is given to Annual Subscribers. The price on this picture in art stores is $3.50. Instead of the GOLDEN PHEASANT, teachers who prefer may have duplicate pictures of each bird each month, on a separate sheet, to use in the school-room. IRDS Volume L JANUARY TO JUNE, 1897 READY JUNE J5th Contains sixty full-page magnificent illustrations of beautiful birds and one hundred pages of popular text, adapted to old and young. Bound in a durable and attractive form. Illustrations made by Color Photography — the only book in the world thus illustrated. For Sale by all Newsdealers and Booksellers, and by Subscription. * Sent by mail to any address in the United States or Canada on receipt of price or three annual subscriptions to BIRDS for cloth binding or five for morocco. CLOTH, . $1.25 MOROCCO, 2.25 Address Mail Orders to Nature Study Publishing Co< CHICAGO, ILL. 1. JUNE, 1897. No. 6. ILLUSTPATED BY COLOP PHOTOGPAPH^ Price 15 cents a copy— $1.50 a year. PUBLISHED IRDS Volume L January to June, 1897 NOW READY. A magnificent took, a work of art — complete in two hundred and twenty-four pages. Sixty full page illustrations made by the new and wonderful process. Color Photography. Adapted to old and young. Bound in neat and durable form. For sale by all Newsdealers and Booksellers and by subscription Sent by mail to any address in the United States or Canada on receipt of price or three annual subscriptions for BIRDS for Cloth binding or four for Half- Morocco, and five for Full Morocco. Address mail orders to Nature Study Publishing Co* CHICAGO. ^ ^ BIND YOUR VOLUMES * * You will always want to keep BIRDS. We will bind for you cheaper than you can get it done and with a fine design which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Stamped in Gold or Aluminum. We furnish missing numbers for J5 cents each. Put your Name and Address on the package. Send to NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING CO. CLOTH .... $1.25 HALF-MOROCCO J.75 MOROCCO 2.25 A SPECIAL PRICE Jfc i * *. ••. -+~r *. ^.Jt—* ***f JL -\^ ju-' A Fisher Building, CLOTH . * . > . . $0.75 y to our A Subscribers. w HALF MOROCCO . . 1.00 FULL MOROCCO . . J.50 'W 9 i Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Ry. THE I MONON ROUTE PROVIDES FOR ITS PATRONS Every Accommodation and Comfort Known to Modern Railroading Luxurious Parlor and Dining Cars by Day Palace Buffet Sleeping Cars by Night SOLID VESTIBULED TRAINS DAILY BETWEEN CHICAGO INDIANAPOLIS CINCINNATI LOUISVILLE AND JJU ALL POINTS SOUTH * FAST TRAINS, ALWAYS ON TIME, AND FEW STOPS Illuminated by Pintsch Light ONLY LINE TO THE FAMOUS HEALTH RESORTS West Baden and French Lick Springs "THE CARLSBAD OF AMERICA" HOTELS OPEN THE YEAR ROUND *%£&£&£&$& THROUGH SLEEPERS DAILY FROM CHICAGO TO WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE. W. H. McDOEL, CHAS. H. ROCKWELL, FRANK J. REED, Vice-Pres't and Gen'l Manager. Traffic Manager. Gen'l Passenger Agent. GENERAL OFFICES: 198 Custom House Place, CHICAGO. Please mention "BIRDS" when you write to advertisers. Manufactured under patents granted by the governments of the United States, England, Germany, France and Canada. A New and Scientific Method of Piano Construction FREE SOUNDING BOARD, VIBRATION BAR, STRINGS RESTING ON ALUMINUM WHEELS, ANTI- MOISTURE PIN BLOCK, LATERAL ^ j* PEDALS <*> & Grand Diploma and Hedal of Honor Awarded at Columbian World's Exposition, J 893 Only American Piano receiving mention in the Official Report to the German ^t ^t ^t Government jt £> £• A. REED & SONS Illustrated Catalogues ... /"»i_ii/-»Ar-»/-v containing full explanation Mailed Free. N<>. 5 Adams Street C H ICAGO Please mention "BIRDS" when you write in advertisers. TEACHERS' CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, ioi Auditorium Building, CHICAGO, ILL. Positions filled, 3,700. Seeks Teachers ambitious for advancement, rather than those without positions. Martin G.Good j photoqraphic Ili AMATEUR Supplies |7 HEADQUARTERS h Developing and Prinlinq •U »,. /tfo// orders .so''''""" 92 StolcSt CHICAGO EARN A BICYCLE 6OO Si-foml Hand Wheels. .Hi ~[U/a'S. UOODASNEW. *5tO$15. New High Grade '96 models, L fully guaranteed, $17 to $25. ISpeeiaJ Clearing Salem |Snip anywhere on approval. •3-We will jrlre & responsiMe asent _n each town FREE USE of sample wheel to introduce them. Our reputation la well known throughout the country. ^_ Write at once for oar special offer. P. R. MEAD & PRENTISS. Chicago. III. ILLINOIS MEDICAL COLLEGE. The Chicago Summer School of Medicine. Co-Educational. Incorporated by the State of Illinois. Sessions open early in March, and last six months. For information, address, R. N. HALL, M. D., President, J. J. M. ANGEAR, A. M., M. D., Treasurer, H. H. BROWN, M. D., Secretary, or W. F. WAUGH, A. M., M. D., Dean. 103 State St., Chicago. In Improvements — The Leader, In Construction — Mechanically Correct. In Operation — Simple and Satisfactory. SEND FOB PREMICH NEW PICTORIAL CATALOGUE. CbcSmitbPrcmicrtypcwritcrCo. SYRACUSE, N. Y., U. S. A. Branch Offices in 42 Principal Cities in the United States and England. CHICAGO OFFICE, 154 MONROE ST. Please mention " BIRDS ' NO SHADED LETTERS! NO WORD SIGNS! STIDGER'S SHORTHAND. Shortest, Easiest, Quickest Learned, and Most Rapidly Written System in the world. Learnt d in one month. STIDGER, i?4 Dearborn St. . Chicago. Taught by mail. Send forcircular. The Whitely Exerciser. For Health, Strength, and Beauty. Send for illustrated pamphlet. Complete machine, prepaid, $3.00, WHITELY EXERCISER CO. 154 Lake St., CHICAGO. Cold and Silver Watches, Bicycles, Tricycles, Gunsand Pistols, Cnrst, Buggies, Wagons, Carriages, Safes, t>: jigiis, Harness, Cart lops, Skid*, Sewing- Machines, Aeeordeons, Orenns, Pianos, Cider Jini* Cash Drawers, Feed Mills, Stoves, Kettles, Bone Hills; Letter Presses, Jack Sirens, Trucks, Anvils, HayCntters, Press stands, Copy Books, Vises, Drills, Road Plows, Lawn .flowers, Coffee Mills, I.athea, Benders, DnmpCarts, Corn Shelters, Hand Carts, Forges. Scrapers. Wire Fence, Fnnnin? Mills, Wringers, Engines, Saws, Steel Sinks, Grain Dumps, Crow Bars. Boilers, Tools, Bit Braces, Hay, Stock, Elemtor, Hal 'road, Platform and Counter SCALES. Send for free Catalogue and see how to sate Money. 151 Bo. Jefferson St.. CHICAGO SCALE CO., Chicago, 111. PRICE $8.90. Now is your Opportunity. Regular size, finest quality. Full i4-karat gold filled, 20 year case, fitted with Elgin or Waltham gilded works; full jeweled top plate, and all modern im provements ; hunting cases; stem wind and stem set. An elegant and reliable time keeper at a low price. Guaranteed forzoyears in every particular. Sent C. O. D. subject to examination on receipt of 50 cents, which amount will be deducted from your bill. LUCKY PIN Gold or Oxidized Silver, with Emerald or Ruby Eyes. Perfect imita tion of Skull and Crossbones. Very popular- Sells at sight. Special terms to agents. Sample by mail, 25 cents. Send for catalogue of Jewelry, Watches, Novelties, Etc. CULLEN & LAWRENCE, 225 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO, ILL. »h«n you write to Advertisers. Harvey Medical College CO-EDUCATIONAL. •Mi • •» m * 167-169-171 South Clark Street CHICAGO. lectures every week day evening. Clinics all day. Four years graded course. Special three mouths summer course. For further information address FRANCES DICKINSON, M. D., Secy. ANDREWS" FURNISHES Everything for Schools Rugby School Desks, Teachers' Desks and Chairs, Blackboards, Erasers, Dustless Crayons, Globes, Maps, Charts, Apparatus, etc., etc. The Jones Model of the Earth shows the reliefs of the land surface and ocean bed, 20 inches diameter. Used by the Royal Geograph ical Society, Cornell University. Normal, and other schools of various forms and grades. The Deep Sea Globe. This new 12 in. globe shows all that is seen on the common globe, but in addition the varying depths of the ocean bed, by color shading, also 500 soundings by figures. The A. H. Andrews Co. CHICAGO. (Next Auditorium) 300 WABASH AVE Also Manufactures Office, Church and Bank Furniture. flttenfl the Best. GUlcaoo Business College, Wabash and Randolph St. (S. W. Corner.) New elegant building. Finer apartments than any other Commercial School in the United States. SUMMER TERM for public school pupils opens July 5. Two months $10.00. SPECIAL BUSINESS or SHORT HAND COURSE for teachers opens JulyS. 2 mos. $15.00. Send for Catalogue. GONDRING & VIRDEN, Prin. 8E«Or FOR 1 SNAP! »RE law We Develop and Print Photos for Amateurs Do it well and promptly. We rent Kodaks, show how to use them, and tell which is best to buy. C. J. DORR & CO., 211-213 Wabash Ave. PREPARE FOR A GOOD POSITION by studying Architecture, Engineering, Electricity, Drafting, ivlathematics, Shorthand, Typewriting, English, Penmanship, Bookkeeping, Business, Teleg raphy, Plumbing. Best teachers. Thorough indi vidual instruction. Rates lower than any other school. Instruction also by mail in any desired study, fcteam engineering a specialty. Call or address, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 151 Throop St., Chicago. FBEE B4BY CARRIAGE Catalogue. Cut this out and send with your name and address, and we will mail you FREE our new Mammoth Catalogue of Baby Carriages.illustrating 100 different styles from $2.75. Carriages sent on 10 OXFORD MUSK. CO.. 300 Wabash Ave. .CHICAGO. Wl ft Can Not See Ho •W «r L. Buy th«0,tbrj Impr complete net of attach Shipped anywhere on 30 da,8'tri»l. So money required in \t- O^now in u... WorW . Fai-r Med.l awarded. En. from factor,, *" nn Do It For the Money. ,! SINUEK Kcmuie Mnth.n,. with » eua So 4 Mizpah Valve Nipples WII.lt NOT COZI.APSB and therefore prevent much colic. The valva prevents a vacuum being formed to collapse them. The ribs inside prevent collapsing when the child bites them. The rim is such that they cannot b« pulled off the bottle. Sample Free by Mall. THE Nature Study Publishing Company is a corporation of educators and business men organ ized to furnish correct reproductions of the colors and forms of nature to families, schools, and scientists. Having secured the services of artists who have succeeded in photo graphing and reproducing objects in their natural colors, by a process whose principles are well known but in which many of the details are held secret, we obtained a charter from the Secre tary of State in November, 1896, and began at once the prrparation of photographic color plates for a series of pictures of birds. The first product was the January number of "BIRDS," a monthly magazine, containing ten plates with descriptions in popular language, avoiding as far as possible scientific and technical terms. Knowing the interest children have in our work, we h.tve included in each number a few pages of easy text pertaining to the illustrations. These are usually set racing the plates to heighten the pleasure of the little folks as they read. Casually noticed, the magazine may appear to be a children's publication because of the placing of this juvenile text. But such is not the case. Those scientists who cherish witli ielight the famous handiwork of Audubon are no less enthusiastic over these beautiful pictures which are painted by the delicate and scientifically accurate fingers of Light itself. These reproductions are true. There is no imagination in them nor conventionialisn. In the presence of their absolute truth an}' written description or work of human hands shrinks into insignificance. The scientific value of these photographs can not be estimated. To establish a great magazine with a world-wide circulation is no light undertaking. \Ve have been steadily and successfully working towards that end. Delays have been unavoidable What was effective for the production of a limited number of copies was inadequate as our orders increased. The very success of the enterprise has sometimes impeded our progress. Ten hundred teachers in Chicago paid subscriptions in ten days. Boards of Education are subscribing in hundred lots. Improvements in the process have been made in almost every number, and we are now assured of a brilliant and useful future. When "BIRDS" has won its proper place in public favor we shall be prepared to issue a similar serial on other natural objects, and look for an equally cordial reception for it. PREMIUMS. To teachers we give duplicates of all the pictures on separate sheets for use in teaching or for decoration. To other subscribers we give a color photograph of one of the most gorgeous birds, the Golden Pheasant. Subscriptions, $1.50 a year including one premium. Those wishing both premiums may receive them and a year's subscription for $2.00. We have just completed an edition of 50,000 back numbers to accommodate those who wish their subscriptions to date back to January, 1897, the first number. We will furnish the first volume, January to June inclusive, well bound in cloth, postage paid, for $1.25. In Morocco, $2 25. AGENTS. 10,000 agents are wanted to travel or solicit at home. We have prepared a fine list of desirable premiums for clubs which any popular adult or child can easily form. Your friends will thank you for showing them the magazine and offering to send their money. The work of getting subscribers among acquaintances is easy and delightful. Agents can do well selling the bound volume. Vol. i is the best possible present for a young person or for anyone specially interested in nature. Teachers and others meeting them at institutes do well as our agents. The magazine sells to teachers better than any other publication because they can use the extra plates for decoration, language work, nature study, and individual occupation. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, 277 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO. PREMIUMS THE GOLDEN PHEASANT, a picture of wonderful beauty, almost life-size, in a natural scene, plate 13 x J8 inches, on card J9 x 25 inches, is given to Annual Subscribers. The price on this picture in art stores is $3.50. Instead of the GOLDEN PHEASANT, teachers who prefer may have duplicate pictures of each bird each month, on a separate sheet, to use in the school-room. To subscribers whose cash for subscriptions reaches us before September J, J897, we will send both the Golden Pheasant and the duplicate pictures. The Golden Pheasant is admired by every one as a work of art. The dupli cate pictures can be framed with good effect, or given to some of your friends. Through June, July and August, we are sending these pictures to all our subscribers. Enclose them in letters to your friends, and ask them to subscribe through you. Tell them you are getting subscrptions for "Birds," in order to secure some premium — a choice book, a camera with complete outfit, a bicycle or anything else you want, whether in our list or not. During the summer vacation, any one can get ninety subscriptions, which will insure you one of the best wheels you or your friends ever have ridden. Price of "Birds," with Golden Pheasant and one hun dred and twenty pictures (ten each month), $1.50. This offer is made until September J, J897. Nature Study Publishing Co*, CHICAGO, ILL.