A family of birds may also be described, as if they were persons,--and are they not? A very fine model of this kind of work is "Our New Neighbors at Ponkapog," by T. B. Aldrich. Have essays written upon the following subjects:-- Are there birds that do not sing? What is the attitude of other birds to the owl? Is any country too cold, or any too warm, for birds? Have birds individuality? What is the largest bird of North America? The smallest? What laws has your state made about birds? Ought the "government to own" the birds? (That is, make laws for their protection.) Is the blue jay wicked? What birds walk? Do birds travel at night, during their migrations? Beginning in March, note for several days the different kinds of birds you see, which were not seen the day before. Make at least two observations daily, one in the morning and one after school. When is the greater number of new birds seen, in the morning or in the afternoon? Or, if you live in a comparatively quiet neighborhood, even in a large city, go out at night and listen for bird sounds in the air. You need not go far to make this trial--your own back door "opens into all outdoors." What states have established a Bird Day by law? Is woman cruel or only thoughtless? Do robins raise more than one brood in a season? If so, do they use the same nest twice? If they raise two broods, what becomes of the first, while the mother is sitting upon the eggs for the second? Watch for a robin leading out his family. Notice the feeding, after the birds are large enough to run and fly fairly well. The young birds are placed apart, and kept apart by the parent, who visits each one in turn, and rebukes any who tries to be piggish, sometimes rapping it with his bill when it runs out of turn. Notice this parent teaching the young to sing. It is a very interesting sight. What birds have you heard sing at night? More birds sing at night than is commonly supposed. The female robin calls to her mate frequently during the night, and he responds with a song. The catbird also sings at night. Last May one was heard to sing three nights in succession from eleven o'clock until daylight in response to little complaining calls from his mate. The song sparrow, warblers, and many other birds sing at night. Their songs at these times sound as if the bird were sleepy and reluctant to sing, or as if he were startled and were hurrying through the performance. Make a note of songs heard at night and try to determine the cause. Learn to distinguish the call of the female from the song of the male. _The kinds of nests._--What birds are weavers? What ones are masons or plasterers? What ones are tailors, in the construction of their nests?