Part 3

AN English terrier, despoiled of her litter of puppies, wandered around quite inconsolable. A brood of ducklings one day attracted her attention. Notwithstanding their quacks of protest, she seized them in her mouth, bore them to her kennel, and with the most affectionate anxiety followed them about, giving them, in her own fashion, a mother's care.

When the ducklings at length took to water, her alarm knew no bounds. "You dreadful children," her sharp barks seemed to say when they returned to land, and taking them in her mouth bore them one by one back to safety, as she thought, to the kennel.

The year following, when again deprived of her puppies, she adopted two cock-chickens, rearing them with the same care she had bestowed upon the ducklings. Their voices, however, when they grew older, greatly annoyed her, and by various means their foster-mother endeavored to stifle their crowing.

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A hen that had selected an unused manger in which to lay her eggs, and rear her brood, found that the barn cat had also selected the same place in which to pass her hours of repose. The hen made no objection to the presence of Mrs. Tabby, and _vice-verse_, so that a strong frendship in time grew up between the two.

Things went on very smoothly, the hen placidly sitting on her eggs, while Mrs. Tabby came and went at will, spending at least half her time beside her companion as friendly as though she were a sister cat.

Vainly did the hen sit, vainly did she turn her eggs. All the warmth in the world would not have hatched a chick from the stale eggs beneath her.

Mrs. Tabby, however, had better luck. To the hen's amazement she found beneath her very nose one morning five squirming furry little creatures which might have been chicks but were not. Certainly they were young of some sort, she reflected, and with true motherly instinct she lent her aid to their proper bringing up.

The kittens thrived, but unfortunately, when still of tender age were deprived, by death of their mother. All but one of her offspring found comfortable homes elsewhere, and that one received the devoted attention of the hen during the whole of that summer.

"To see it going between the house and barn clucking for the kitten," says Dr. Beadner in _Our Animal Friends_, "was indeed a funny sight, and quite as remarkable to see the kitten run to her when she made the peculiar call that chickens understand means something to eat. At night and during the resting hours of the daytime, kittie would crawl under the warm wings of her foster mother; and the brooding hen and her nestling kitten were happy and contented, little dreaming and caring less that they were so far from being related to each other."

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ONE AUDUBON SOCIETY.

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FIVE hundred invitations were sent out for a novel reception by the Wisconsin Audubon Society a while ago. One of the directors lent a large, handsome house, and six milliners were invited to send hats unadorned with aigrettes or birds. Ostrich plumes, quills and cock's-tails were not disbarred. Twenty-five other milliners applied for space, "everybody" went, and a great many tastefully trimmed hats were sold. People who had never before heard of the Audubon Society became, through the newspaper reports of the affair, greatly interested in its object, and the society itself greatly encouraged through the fact that by their hats and bonnets many of the "best" people of Milwaukee were ready to proclaim it no longer good form to wear the plumes or bodies of wild birds.

"Certificates of heartlessness," a writer in _Our Dumb Animals_ calls them and we know of no better appellation to apply. Women of fashion, says the same writer, have been urged to use the power which they possess--and it is a power greater than that of law--to bring this inhumanity to an instant stop. The appeals for the most part were in vain. Birds continue to be slaughtered by millions upon millions, simply for the gratification of a silly vanity of which intelligent women should be ashamed. Whole species of the most beautiful denizens of field and forest, woodland and shore, have been almost or quite exterminated. Song birds have been driven further and further from the dwellings of men; our country is stripped of one of its least costly and most charming delights and all that women may deck themselves in conformity with a fad.

A bill for the protection of birds was passed on March 24, by the Senate of the United States, introduced into the House of Representatives on March 25, and referred to the Committee on Agriculture. It is entitled "An Act for the Protection of Song Birds."

We confess, says the same writer, to a feeling of humiliation when reading this bill, because it seems a just indictment of the women of America on a charge of willful, wanton, reckless inhumanity. That such legislation should be made necessary, through vanity alone, ought in our estimation, to bring the blush of shame to every good woman's cheek.

"I didn't think," is the usual reply of the fair sex, when approached on the subject. "I didn't think." Aye you didn't think, but that plea can no longer avail when press and pulpit, in the name of humanity, so earnestly and eloquently plead with you to spare the birds.

If compassion for the little creature whose life went out in agony, to supply that ornament above your brow does not move you to abstain from wearing such in the future, then the knowledge that some of the "best" people in the country consider it "bad form," perhaps will.

--E. K. M.

The lady has surely a beautiful face, She has surely a queenly air; The bonnet had flowers and ribbon and lace; But the bird has added the crowning grace-- It is really a charming affair.

Is the love of a bonnet supreme over all, In a lady so faultlessly fair? The Father takes heed when the Sparrows fall, He hears when the starving nestlings call-- Can a tender woman _not care_? --SUSAN E. GAMMONS, _Our Dumb Animals_.

1. Cat Bird. 2. Robin. 3. Chickadee. 4. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 5. Brown Thrasher. 6. Yellow Warbler. 7. Red-eyed Vireo. 8. Loggerhead Shrike. 9. Cedar Waxwing. 10. Cliff Swallow. 11. Martin. 12. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 13. Scarlet Tanager. 14. Towhee. 15. Song Sparrow. 16. Chipping Sparrow. 17. Vesper Sparrow. 18. Great-tailed Grackle. 19. Bronzed Grackle. 20. Baltimore Oriole. 21. Orchard Oriole. 22. Meadow Lark. 23. Red-winged Blackbird. 24. Blue Jay. 25. Prairie Horned Lark. 26. Wood Pewee.

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THE YOUTH OF BUDDHA.

From "THE LIGHT OF ASIA."

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... In mid-play the boy would oft-times pause, Letting the deer pass free; would oft-times yield His half-won race because the laboring steeds Fetched painful breath; or if his princely mates Saddened to lose, or if some wistful dream Swept o'er his thoughts. And ever with the years Waxed this compassionateness of our Lord, Even as a great tree grows from two soft leaves To spread its shades afar; but hardly yet Knew the young child of sorrow, pain, or tears, Save as strange names for things not felt by kings, Nor ever to be felt. But it befell In the royal garden on a day of spring, A flock of wild Swans passed, voyaging north To their nest-places on Himâla's breast. Calling in love-notes down their snowy line The bright birds flew, by fond love piloted; And Devadatta, cousin of the prince, Pointed his bow, and loosed a willful shaft Which found the wide wing of the foremost Swan Broad-spread to glide upon the free blue road, So that it fell, the bitter arrow fixed, Bright scarlet blood-gouts staining the pure plumes. Which seeing, Prince Siddârtha took the bird Tenderly up, rested it in his lap-- Sitting with knees crossed, as Lord Buddha sits-- And, soothing with a touch the wild thing's fright, Composed its ruffled vans, calmed its quick heart, Caressed it into peace with light kind palms As soft as plantain leaves an hour unrolled; And while the left hand held, the right hand drew The cruel steel forth from the wound, and laid Cool leaves and healing honey on the smart.

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SUMMARY.

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Page 206.

BRUNNICH'S MURRE.--_Uria lomvia._

RANGE--Coasts and islands of the north Atlantic and eastern Arctic oceans, south on the Atlantic coast of North America to New Jersey.

NEST--On the bare rock, often on the narrow shelves of cliffs.

EGGS--One.

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Page 210.

CANADA GOOSE.--_Branta canadensis._ Other names: "Common Wild Goose," "Grey Goose," "Honker."

RANGE--North America at large.

NEST--Of dried grasses, raised about twelve inches from the ground; has been found in trees.

EGGS--Generally five, of a pale dull greenish color.

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Page 214.

BROWN CREEPER.--_Certhia familiaris americana._

RANGE--Eastern North America, breeding from northern border of United States northward.

NEST--In holes of trees lined with dry grass, moss, and feathers.

EGGS--Five to eight.

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Page 218.

DOWNY WOODPECKER.--_Dryobates pubescens._ Other name: "Little or Lesser Sapsucker." This, however, is a misnomer.

RANGE--Northern and eastern North America, and sporadically the western portions--Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, etc.

NEST--In an excavation in a tree.

EGGS--Four or five, rarely six, pure glossy white.

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Page 223.

OLD SQUAW DUCK.--_Clangula hyemalis._ Other names: South Southerly; Long-tailed Duck; Swallow-tailed Duck; Old Injun (Mass. and Conn.) Old Molly; Old Billy; Scolder (New Hampshire and Massachusetts.)

RANGE--Northern hemisphere; south in winter to nearly the southern border of the United States.

NEST--On the margins of lakes and ponds, among low bushes or low grass, warmly lined with down and feathers.

EGGS--From six to twelve, of pale, dull grayish pea-green.

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Page 227.

WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.--_Plegadis autumnalis._

RANGE--Tropical and sub-tropical regions generally; rare and of local distribution in the southeastern United States and West Indies.

NEST--Of rushes, plant stems, etc., in reedy swamps on low bushes.

EGGS--Three, rather deep, dull blue.

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Page 231.

ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.--_Tyrannus verticalis._ Other name: Arkansas Flycatcher.

RANGE--Western United States from the plains to the Pacific, and from British Columbia south through Lower California and western Mexico to Guatemala.

NEST--On branches of trees, in open and exposed situations, six to twenty feet from the ground; built of stems of weeds and grasses.

EGGS--Three to six, white, thinly spotted with purple to dark redish-brown.

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VOLUME III. JANUARY TO JUNE, 1898.

INDEX.

Apple Blossom Time, 153 Audubon Society, One, 234 Aviaries, 121-2

Birds, Foreign Song Birds in Oregon, 123 Birds, in the Schools, 20 Birds, Hints on the Study of Winter, 109 Birds, Interesting Facts About, 100 Birds' Answer, The, 83 Bird Study, The Fascinations of, 164 Birds, Let Us All Protect the Eggs of the, 154 Birds, Pairing in Spring, 189 Bird, Only a, 73 Bird Superstitions and Winged Portents, 172 Bird Day, 82 Birds, a Friend of, 43 Bird, The Mound, 114 Bird Lovers, Some, 81 Bittern, Least, _Botaurus exilis_, 46-47 Bob White, _Colinus virginianus_, 16-18-19-34 Buddha, The Youth of, 237

Christmas, Where Missouri Birds Spend, 84 Cockatoo, Rose, _Cacatua leadbeateri_, 29-30-31 Coot, American, _Fulica americana_, 96-98-99 Contentment, 163 Crane, Queer doings of a, 44 Creeper, Brown, _Certhia familiaris americana_, 212-214-215

Dickcissel, _Spiza americana_, 146-147-149 Duck, Bald Pate, _Anas americana_, 48-50-51 Duck, Black, _Anas obscura_, 86-87 Duck, Pintail, _Dafila acuta_, 176-8-9 Duck, Old Squaw, _Clangula hyemalis_, 223-5 Duck Farms, Eider, 113

Egg, What is An, 60 Eggs, 155-195-235

Feathers or Flowers?, 180 Finch, Purple, _Carpodacus purpureus_, 54-55 Flycatcher, Arkansas, _Tyrannus verticalis_, 230-231

Gnat-catcher, Blue-gray, _Polioptila caerulea_, 94-95 Goose, Canada, _Branta canadensis_, 208-210-211 Goose That Takes a Hen Sailing, 194 Grouse, Dusky, _Dendragapus obscurus_, 150-151

Hawk, Sparrow, _Falco sparverius_, 105-6-7 Heron, Great Blue, _Ardea herodias_, 190-1-3

Ibis, White-Faced Glossy, _Plegadis guarauna_, 226-7 I Can but Sing, 186

June, 201-202

Kindness, a Foster Brother's, 194 Kingbird, Arkansas, _Tyrannus verticalis_, 230

March, 82 Memory, Bird Songs of, 124 Murre, Brunnich's, _Uria lomvia_, 206-7 Music, Color in, 161-2

Nature, Some Lovers of, 229 Neighbor, Our, 203 Nests, Birds', 204 Nest, Life in the, 69 Nightingale, _Motacilla luscinia_, 136-8-9 Nightingale, To a, 141

Ovenbird, _Seiurus aurocapillus_, 126-7 Owl, The Early, 12 Owl, Saw-Whet, _Nyctala acadica_, 61-2-3 Owl, Short-eared, _Asio accipitrinus_, 25-6-7

Paradise, Birds of, 140 Partridge, Mountain, _Oreortyx pictus_, 34-35 Parrot, Double Yellow Headed, _Conurus mexicanus_, 181-2-3 Partnership, a Forced, 60 Partridge, Scaled, _Callipepla squamata_, 114-115 Petrel, The Stormy, _Oceanites oceanicus_, 88-90-91-92 Pheasant, Silver, _Phasianus nycthemerus_, 110-111 Pigeons, The, 4 Pigeon, Crowned, _Columbidæ goura_, 6-7 Pigeon, Passenger, _Ectopistes migratorius_, 21-22-23 Pleas for the Speechless, 33 Plover, Snowy, _Aegialitis nivosa_, 70-71 Prairie Hen, Lesser, _Tympanuchus pallidicinctus_, 74-75

Queer Relations, 233

Rhea, South American, _Rhea americana_, 166-7-8

Sandpiper, Bartramian, _Bartramia longicauda_, 134-5 Sparrow, English, 175 Sparrow, Fox, _Passerella iliaca_, 14-15 Spoonbill, Roseate, _Ajaja ajaja_, 142-3-5 Spring Thoughts, 185 Stilt, Black-necked, _Himantopus mexicanus_, 174-5 Summary, 40-80-120-160-200-238 Superstitions, Irish Bird, 132 Swan, Black, _Cygnus_, 65-66-67

Tenants, The New, 37-77-117-157-197-220 Thoughts, 146

Vireo, Red-Eyed, _Vireo olivaceus_, 8-10-11

Warbler, Bay-breasted, _Dendroica castanea_, 170-171 Warbler, Magnolia, _Dendroica maculosa_, 186-187 Woodpecker, Arctic Three-toed, _Picoides arcticus_, 128-130-131 Woodpecker, Downy, _Dryobates pubescens_, 216-218-219 Woodpecker, Ivory-billed, _Campephilus principalis_, 101-102-103 Woodpecker, Red-bellied, _Melanerpes carolinus_, 56-58-59 White, Gilbert, and "Selbourne", 41 Wooing Birds' Odd Ways, 52