THE PREFACE THE ILLUSTRATIONS BEGINNING THE STUDY MAKING NEW FRIENDS WILDWOOD MINSTRELS CHICKADEE WAYS THE NUTHATCH FAMILY A FEATHERED PARASITE A BLUE CANNIBAL A HANDSOME SCISSORSTAIL AN ALPINE ROSY FINCH HAPPENINGS BY THE WAY ODDS AND ENDS WAYSIDE OBSERVATIONS TROUBLE AMONG THE BIRDS A BIRD'S EDUCATION ARE BIRDS SINGERS OR WHISTLERS? BIRD FLIGHT A BIRD'S FOOT _THE ILLUSTRATIONS_ AMERICAN SPARROW-HAWK . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ CHIPPING SPARROW YELLOW WARBLER CHICKADEE NUTHATCH BLUE JAY PEWEE, OR PHOEBE SONG SPARROW CARDINAL WHITE-EYED VIREO BALTIMORE ORIOLE BOB-WHITE, OR QUAIL ROBIN MEADOW LARK BARN SWALLOW SPOTTED SANDPIPER, OR "PEET-WEET" BEGINNING THE STUDY Why should not people ride natural history hobbies as well as other kinds of hobbies? Almost all persons become interested in some special study, recreation, or pastime, and their choice is not always as profitable as the selection of a specific branch of nature lore would be. The writer confesses that he would rather pursue a bright, lilting bird or butterfly than a bounding tennis-ball or football, and he finds the chase every whit as exciting and the knowledge gained of more permanent value; and he says this without in anywise intending to discountenance healthful games and athletic exercises, but simply to express a preference. What could be more fascinating, for instance, than for a young person--or an older person, either, for that matter--to spend his leisure in trying to identify every bird in his neighborhood? As a result of such an attempt he would doubtless become so interested in the study of his bird neighbors that he would resolve to learn all he could about their charming habits. How may one study the birds intelligently? That is a question every beginner will want to have answered. When I began my bird studies I spent much valuable time in simply trying to learn the _modus operandi_, and while I do not consider the time thus spent entirely wasted, still I am anxious to save my readers as much needless effort as possible. This I shall do by showing them how they may begin at once to form an acquaintance with the various families and species of birds. It goes without saying that, to become a successful nature student, one must have good eyes, strong limbs, nimble feet, and, above all, an alert mind. People who lack these qualities, especially the last, will not be likely to pursue the noble science of ornithology. The stupid sort will prefer to drowse in the shade, and the light-minded will care only for the gay round of social pleasures. Any bright and earnest person, however, can in good time become an expert student of the feathered creation, provided only that he feels a genuine interest in such pursuit. No one, let it be repeated, can study nature successfully in a dull, perfunctory spirit. Here, as in religion, one must have the baptism of fire, the temper of devotion.