TALES OF THE BIRDS [Illustration: colophon] MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO [Illustration: ... And stood there, proud and fierce, one foot still grasping its victim.--P. 92. _Front._] TALES OF THE BIRDS BY W. WARDE FOWLER AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS.” “Μετἀ δἐ χρόνον την πελειάδα ἀνθρωηίη φωνή αὐδάξασθαι λέγουσι.” HERODOTUS _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRYAN HOOK_ MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1909 RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED. BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. _First Edition._, 1888. _Second Edition_, 1889. _Reprinted_, 1891, 1899, 1909. _School Edition_, 1901. _Reprinted_, 1903 (_twice_). TO G. J. E. IN MEMORY OF PLEASANT DAYS IN THE SUNNY SUMMER OF 1887. CONTENTS. PAGE A WINTER’S TALE 1 OUT OF TUNE 33 A JUBILEE SPARROW 54 THE FALCON’S NEST 82 A DEBATE IN AN ORCHARD 109 A TRAGEDY IN ROOK-LIFE 132 A QUESTION BEGINNING WITH “WHY” 156 THE LIGHTHOUSE 181 THE OWLS’ REVENGE 210 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ... AND STOOD THERE, PROUD AND FIERCE, WITH ONE FOOT STILL GRASPING ITS VICTIM (_Frontispiece._) THUS THEY PASSED THE NIGHT, TOLERABLY WARM AND COMFORTABLE, AND EVEN SLEEPING _To face page_ 19 “HOW THAT BIRD DOES SING!” “ “ 49 A “JUBILEE” SPARROW “ “ 61 AND THE BLACKBIRD BEGAN HIS ORATION “ “ 117 ... DEEP IN MEDITATION ON THE PROBLEMS WHICH OCCUPIED HIS MIND _To face page_ 141 “WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME, AS I SEE YOU WAG YOUR OWN TAILS SO CONSTANTLY AND SO NICELY, WHY YOU DO IT?” _To face page_ 170 PIPI LOOKED UP AND SAW FLIP; IN AN INSTANT THEY WERE TOGETHER _To face page_ 205