Stories of Birds | Page 5

Some must remain to care for
the babes still in the nest. Some were too old to undertake the journey.
Some were too young to find the way.
"'Some had been ill and were still too weak to travel. Indeed, the birds
seemed to be in as sad a plight as before.

"'At last there stepped forth a bird, who, truth to tell, was not a general
favourite among his fellows. His name was turkey buzzard.
"'The bird agreed to undertake the long journey and bring back the
feathery uniforms, if he could choose the most beautiful coat of
feathers for himself and his family for ever.
"'To this the other birds consented, and the featherless turkey buzzard
flew away.
"'It was indeed a long and a dangerous journey. Sometimes the poor
bird nearly dropped from weariness and hunger. Sometimes, so hungry
was he, that he was forced to make a meal off from some dead animal
which lay in the way. Indeed so often did he do this that in time he
came to like this food.
"'It came to pass, after many days, that the turkey buzzard, being
directed by the Great Spirit, found the feathery uniforms.
"'He at once began to look them over. He intended to choose the most
beautiful coat of feathers for himself and his family.
"'Soon he found a suit of most gorgeous colours. He tried it on, and
looked at his own reflection in the water. The dress was very beautiful.
Well pleased with himself and his dress the turkey buzzard gathered up
the remaining uniforms and started for home.
"'But alas! the new dress, although so beautiful, did not fit comfortably.
The poor bird found that he could not fly well in his new dress. He tried
another and still another bright coloured dress, but in none of them was
he comfortable.
"'At length, quite discouraged, he slipped into a quiet, dark uniform.
Although this suit was the least beautiful it fitted comfortably and
gracefully. In it the turkey buzzard flew away home, and in such
uniform have his family ever since been content to dress.
"'The turkey buzzards are quite willing to leave the more gorgeous

dresses for those birds who cannot fly so far nor so gracefully as they.'"

CHILLY LITTLE CHICKADEES[1]
Chilly little chickadees, Sitting in a row, Chilly little chickadees,
Buried in the snow, Don't you find it very cold For your little feet?
Don't you find it hard to get Anything to eat?
Hungry little chickadees, Would you like some bread? I will give you
all you want, Or some seed, instead, Anything you like to eat I will
give you free, Every morning, every night, If you come to me.
Jolly little chickadees, Have you had enough? Don't forget to come
again When the weather's rough. Bye, bye, happy little birds! Off the
wee things swarm, Plying through the driving snow, Singing in the
storm.

[1] From "Songs and Games for Little Ones," by permission of Oliver
Ditson Company, owners of the copyright.

ALL ABOUT THE CHICKADEE
SUGGESTIONS FOR FIELD LESSONS.
Does not go south in winter.
Song--two or three clear long whistles and the chirping of his own
name, "chickadee."
A gay, curious little bird.
Black head and throat--sides of head and neck white--breast grayish
buff--wings and tail darker shade edged with white--larger feathers of
shoulders white.

Food--seeds and dormant insects or larval eggs.--Valuable as an insect
destroyer.
Builds in hollow places--usually deserted woodpeckers' or squirrels'
nests--sometimes hollows place for itself.
Six white eggs speckled with red--young birds, male and female much
alike in colouring.

ROBIN REDBREAST
MERRY ROBIN REDBREAST
"Robin, robin redbreast, Singing on the bough, Come and get your
breakfast, We will feed you now. Robin likes the golden grain, Nods
his head and sings again: 'Chirping, chirping cheerily, Here I come so
merrily, Thank you, children dear!'"
Thus sang Phyllis one morning during the second week in March.
In the topmost bough of the old apple-tree sat Robin Redbreast, looking
altogether doubtful as to whether he liked the little girl's song.
But when he saw the grains of wheat which the child was scattering on
the ground for his breakfast, he thought better of his doubt.
He hopped lower on the branches. He turned his little head on one side
and looked at Phyllis in a very friendly fashion.
"Come on down!" Phyllis begged. "I am so glad that you have returned.
I am so glad that you came to this very apple-tree and sang so strong
and loud and clear!"
"Chirp! Chirp!" and the robin hopped again nearer.
"You see," Phyllis went on, in her coaxing little voice, "my brother
Jack, being a boy, said he would be the one to see the first robin this

year.
"But I made