THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS
THE CHILDREN'S
BOOK OF BIRDS
OLIVE THORNE MILLER
WITH SIXTEEN COLORED PLATES AND
MANY OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
The Riverside Press Cambridge
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PREFACE
The Children's Book of Birds combines under a single cover the First and Second Books of Birds, originally published in 1899 and 1901 respectively and still popular with children in and out of school and with other beginners in the study of birds.
The book is intended to interest young people in the ways and habits of birds and to stimulate them to further study. It has grown out of my experience in talking to schools. From the youngest kindergarten scholar to boys and girls of sixteen and eighteen, I have never failed to find young people intensely interested so long as I would tell them about bow the birds live.
Some of the results of these talks that have come to my knowledge have been astonishing and far-reaching, such as that of one boy of seven or eight, who persuaded the village boys around his summer home to give up taking eggs and killing birds, and watch them instead, and who was dubbed "Professor" by his eager followers. The effect has always been to make children love and respect the living bird.
It has therefore seemed to me that what is needed at first is not the science of ornithology,—however diluted,—but some account of the life and habits, to arouse sympathy and interest in the living bird, neither as a target nor as a producer of eggs, but as a fellow-creature whose acquaintance it would be pleasant to make.
Naturally I have drawn on my own observations for much of the matter contained in this book, but these have been supplemented by consultation of recognized authorities in the various fields of ornithology.
In each bird family treated of in the Second Book I have given accounts of species to be found in the South and West as well as in the Eastern States, and I have selected the most common or typical species of each family. In cases where it was possible, I have chosen species represented in the different sections of the country, not only because the family traits are better shown, but because it is more encouraging to a beginner to become acquainted with birds he can see almost anywhere. When familiar with these, he will be able to identify and study the rarer species.
[viii]
[ix]
CONTENTS
THE NESTLING III. The Bird's Home 9 IV. The Baby Bird 13 V. How he is fed 17 VI. His First Suit 21 VII. How he changes his Clothes 25 VIII. His First Flight 29 IX. His Education 33 X. Some of his Lessons 37
THE BIRD GROWN UP XI. The Bird's Language 43 XII. What he eats 48 XIII. More about his Food 52 XIV. Where he sleeps 57 XV. His
HOW HE IS MADE XXI. His Body 91 XXII. His Beak and Tongue 95 XXIII. His Eyes and Ears 100 XXIV. His Feet and Legs 105 XXV. His Wings and Tail 109 XXVI. His Dress 114 XXVII. Different colored Suits 118
HIS RELATIONS WITH US XXVIII. How he works for us 125 XXIX. How to attract him about our homes 131 XXX. How to study him 136
SECOND BOOK I. What is a Bird Family? 1 II. The Thrush Family 5 American Robin 6 Hermit Thrush 11 III. The Kinglet and Gnatcatcher Family 14 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16 IV. The Nuthatch and Chickadee Family 18 White-breasted Nuthatch 18 Red-breasted Nuthatch 20 Chickadee 22 Tufted Titmouse