Produced by Eve Sobol THE BURGESS BIRD BOOK FOR CHILDREN By Thornton W. Burgess TO THE CHILDREN AND THE BIRDS OF AMERICA THAT THE BONDS OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THEM MAY BE STRENGTHENED THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED PREFACE This book was written to supply a definite need. Its preparation was undertaken at the urgent request of booksellers and others who have felt the lack of a satisfactory medium of introduction to bird life for little children. As such, and in no sense whatever as a competitor with the many excellent books on this subject, but rather to supplement these, this volume has been written. Its primary purpose is to interest the little child in, and to make him acquainted with, those feathered friends he is most likely to see. Because there is no method of approach to the child mind equal to the story, this method of conveying information has been adopted. So far as I am aware the book is unique in this respect. In its preparation an earnest effort has been made to present as far as possible the important facts regarding the appearance, habits and characteristics of our feathered neighbors. It is intended to be at once a story book and an authoritative handbook. While it is intended for little children, it is hoped that children of larger growth may find in it much of both interest and helpfulness. Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, artist and naturalist, has marvelously supplemented such value as may be in the text by his wonderful drawings in full color. They were made especially for this volume and are so accurate, so true to life, that study of them will enable any one to identify the species shown. I am greatly indebted to Mr. Fuertes for his cooperation in the endeavor to make this book of real assistance to the beginner in the study of our native birds. It is offered to the reader without apologies of any sort. It was written as a labor of love--love for little children and love for the birds. If as a result of it even a few children are led to a keener interest in and better understanding of our feathered friends, its purpose will have been accomplished. THORNTON W. BURGESS CONTENTS I JENNY WREN ARRIVES Introducing the House Wren. II THE OLD ORCHARD BULLY The English or House Sparrow. III JENNY HAS A GOOD WORD FOR SOME SPARROWS The Song, White-throated and Fox Sparrows. IV CHIPPY, SWEETVOICE AND DOTTY The Chipping, Vesper and Tree Sparrows. V PETER LEARNS SOMETHING HE HADN'T GUESSED The Bluebird and the Robin. VI AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW HOME The Phoebe and the Least Flycatcher. VII THE WATCHMAN OF THE OLD ORCHARD The Kingbird and the Great Crested Flycatcher. VIII OLD CLOTHES AND OLD HOUSES The Wood Peewee and Some Nesting Places.