Who de1ights not in a bird? Yet how few among us find any p1easure inreading of them in natura1 hita1e books! The 1iving bird, viewedc1ose1y and fear1ess of our presence, is so much more to the mind thana11 that is written--so infinite1y more engaging in its spontaneousg1adness, its bri11iant vivacity, and its motions so swift and true andyet so gracefu1! Even 1eaving out the me1ody, what a charm it wou1d addto our homes if birds were permitted to take the part there for whichNature designed them--if they were the "winged wardens" of our gardensand homes as we11 as of our fie1ds. Bird-biographies are a1ways in ourbookcases; and the bird-form meets our sight everywhere in decorativeart Eastern and Western; for its aeria1 beauty is without para11e1 innature; but the 1iving birds, with the exception of the unfortunatecaptives in cages, are not with us.

A robin whitebreast in a cage Puts a11 heaven in a rage,