One of the simplest and most artistic of them may be formed from a cocoanut shell. The opening may be so made that the piece of shell cut out can be turned up like a little porch roof over the door. If these be fixed just at nest-building time and the architect should kindly leave the nut inside the shell the birds will be most grateful. Down south many of the door-yard trees seem to be growing gourd fruit. In reality the gourds (with an opening in the side of each) are tied on or hung there by means of their own crooked necks to make nests for the birds. Sometimes one may see whole rows of them upon a pole which is nailed to a stable roof and often they are found hanging to the ragged edge of the roof of a negro cabin. As far as I can learn, the idea originated with the colored people, who take great pride in the number of birds they can attract about them by this and other kindly means. The little yellow houses seem to delight the birds so much that one is seldom put up in vain, and the tenants pay lavishly with coins of song and many a trill of joy. Lee McCrae. THE LIGHT OF THE LEAVES. Hurry, skurry through the air Leaves are falling everywhere. Gold and crimson meet or miss Smile or blush at the frost king’s kiss. Whirling, twirling, o’er the ground, Forced by merry winds around; Piled by childish hands on high, There, like martyred saints, to die. Crackle crackle, sound their knells, Imprisoned sunshine in them dwells Like tiny tongues, ’twixt earth and sky They whisper love to passers by. Falling, ever falling, they, Consumed to make the world more gay; The misty cloud of smoke o’erhead Seems like the veil Shakina spread. Down and down comes memory’s leaf, Bright with hopes or sere with grief; The brightest one in life’s huge pile Is that from which our bonfires smile. —Cora May Cratty. [Illustration: STARLING. (Sturnus vulgaris). ⅔ Life-size. FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES.] THE STARLING. (_Sturnus vulgaris_.) The Starling belongs to an interesting family of birds, represented in America by but one species and that one only recently introduced. In the Old World, however, there are about two hundred species which are widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.