I 
 
 The Birds' 
 Convention 
 
 Harriet Williams Myers 
 
The Birds' 
 Convention 
 
 By 
 
 Harriet Williams Myers 
 
 // 
 
 Secretary California Audubon Society 
 
 With 
 Illustrations from Photographs by the Author 
 
 Western Publishing Co., 
 
 Publishers "Out West" Magazine 
 
 218 New High Street 
 
 Los Angeles, Calif. 
 
BIOLOGY 
 
 1.1BRARY 
 
 G 
 
 B10LOGV 
 
 LIBRARY 
 G 
 
 Copyright 1913 
 HARRIET WILLIAMS MYERS 
 
CHAPTER 1. 
 
 THE COMING TOGETHER. 
 
 "The meeting will please come to order." It was 
 Mr. Mockingbird who spoke and, instantly, there 
 was quiet among the birds. 
 
 "I think you all know why we are here assem- 
 bled," began Mr. Mockingbird. "It is to hold our 
 First Annual Convention of the birds. All our 
 human brothers hold meetings which they call 'con- 
 ventions,' and from what I hear of them, they are 
 most enjoyable occasions. Only last nigr# the mistress 
 of the yard where Mrs. Mocker and I "dwell and 
 raise our families, was telling her mate of an 'affair/ 
 as she called it, and I am sure it must have been ae- 
 lightful." 
 
 "Yes, my friends," spoke up Mrs. Mocker, "our 
 family" meaning the humans where she lived 
 "go to many things of that kind. Only a short time 
 ago the daughter went on a moonlight picnic, a thing 
 we would not care to do, although Mr. Mocker al- 
 ways sings these spring nights and would not mind an 
 evening meeting, I suppose." 
 
 "The boy at our house often goes to 'games* as he 
 calls them," said Mr. Jay. "He is a football player, 
 whatever that may be, and sometimes he comes home 
 all bruised up. I am sure that nothing of that kind 
 will happen at our Convention," and Mr. Jay tried to 
 look meek. 
 
 Mrs. Goldfinch whispered to her neighbor that she 
 guessed if Mr. Jay behaved himself the others would. 
 
 7 
 
 66870 
 
6 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 "I am sure," said the Chairman, "that nothing but 
 pleasant and friendly sports would be approved by 
 this Convention. Is it not so, Mr. Brown Towhee?" 
 
 The quakerlike Towhee arose and said he did not 
 approve of these warlike games. He and his family 
 were always for peace. It was very distressing 
 to him to think that his human brothers, who were, 
 supposedly, so much wiser, should enjoy such war- 
 like sports. 
 
 Mr. Mockingbird 
 
 "Those of us who have had this meeting in 
 charge," said Mr. Mocker, "thought it would be 
 well to have our business meeting first. When that 
 is finished we will have our picnic-lunch, to be fol- 
 lowed by an evening anthem by the whole assembly. 
 Those of you who have family cares then can go 
 home. We wish as many of you as possible to 
 assemble for the early morning chorus at 4:30 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 7 
 
 o'clock. We want this to be the grandest chorus 
 ever known in this section, so be sure to come." 
 
 "Our family is not much on singing," spoke up 
 Mr. California Woodpecker, "so we would not be 
 missed." 
 
 "Indeed you would, Mr. Woodpecker!" replied 
 the Chairman. "It is the united effort of the whole, 
 each adding his mite, that makes the grandest 
 choruses. We shall expect you all to come whether 
 you are noted singers or not. The Thrushes and 
 Thrashers will be here to lead us, so I am sure it 
 will be a success." 
 
 It was noticed by the assembly that he modestly 
 forbore to speak of his own brothers who would 
 undoubtedly do more than any of the others to swell 
 the chorus. 
 
 "After the morning chorus," continued Chair- 
 man Mocker, "we will have breakfast, followed 
 by an experience meeting. We are all anxious to 
 know what has happened to our various families 
 during the past winter. We shall also discuss many 
 subjects that will interest the ladies, such as 'The 
 Difficulties of Nest-building,' *Trials of Young 
 Mothers,' *The Audubon Society,' etc." 
 
 "Mr. Chairman," said Mr. Hooded Oriole, "I 
 suppose the first thing to come before the meeting is 
 the choosing of a permanent president. Since the 
 holding of this meeting was the idea of Mr. Mock- 
 ingbird and since he has worked so hard to bring 
 this first meeting about, I move that Mr. Harris 
 Mockingbird (the first name indicating his home 
 address) be made President of this Convention." 
 
8 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 A chorus of voices seconded this motion which 
 was put by Mr. Oriole and unanimously carried. 
 
 "Speech! Speech!" arose in a noisy hubbub from 
 all parts of the house, or rather woods, for this was 
 an open-air convention. 
 
 "I am not a speech-maker," said Mr. Mocker, 
 modestly. "My best efforts have always been put 
 forth in song. However, I am glad to thank you 
 for this great honor which you have conferred upon 
 me. It will be my pleasure to see that the meetings 
 are carried on to suit the greatest number. We 
 found it very hard to know just when to hold this 
 meeting. Of course, to us resident birds it did 
 not make much difference, but if we held it in the 
 wintertime the summer visitants could not attend; 
 and if we waited until summertime, the winter visit- 
 ants would not be here. As it is, some of them have 
 not been able to wait. The Kinglet family nearly 
 all have been obliged to go North, although they 
 so gladly would have attended this meeting. Some 
 members of the Thrush family also have had to go 
 on. Several families have delayed their going in 
 order that they might be here today; others have 
 arrived earlier than usual because of this assembly." 
 
 "Most of my family has gone," spoke up Mr. 
 White-crowned Sparrow. "I was chosen a dele- 
 gate to represent them, for we felt that so important 
 a division of the Sparrow family should not go 
 unrepresented, yet it seemed unwise for many of 
 us to delay our trip North. Many of us spend the 
 summer in Alaska, you know," he said with just 
 pride. 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 9 
 
 "Oh, did you see Captain Peary when he dis- 
 covered the Pole?" asked perky Jenny Wren, all 
 in a flutter. 
 
 Mr. White-crowned Sparrow 
 
 "Well, no, my dear," replied Mr. Sparrow." 
 You see in the first place the pole is not in Alaska; 
 and in the second place no bird could live in all 
 the ice and snow that Captain Peary lived in. The 
 summer climate of Alaska is delightful. I just wish 
 you could visit us some time." 
 
 Jenny Wren looked crestfallen after this expla- 
 nation, and several were disappointed to think Mr. 
 Sparrow could not tell of a personal encounter with 
 the great explorer. 
 
 "As I spent last summer in Alaska," continued 
 Mr. White-crowned Sparrow, "I felt willing to sum- 
 mer farther South, so did not need to start so early." 
 
10 THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 
 
 "And I have remained to represent my family 
 and accompany my cousin on his Northern trip/* 
 said handsome Mr. Golden-crowned Sparrow. 
 
 "I, also, have delayed my going," said Mr. Au- 
 dubon Warbler, as he flitted from twig to twig. 
 
 "I believe he stayed just to show us how hand- 
 some he is in his spring suit," whispered Mrs. Wren 
 to her neighbor. "I do not blame him one mite," 
 she added, as she glanced from her own modest 
 garb to that of the gay little warbler. He was, in- 
 deed, a beauty with his yellow spots on crown, rump, 
 throat, and each side of breast. The black patches 
 on his breast and his bluedrab back also added to 
 his charming looks. 
 
 "Well, he hasn't much of a voice if he is so hand- 
 some," spoke up one of the Mocker family who 
 heard the comment. "He is not half as good a 
 singer as your husband, Mrs. Wren." 
 
 "Oh, don't you think so?" asked Mr. Wren 
 eagerly. "I'm glad that you like my voice, for I do 
 enjoy singing, but I have always wished that I might 
 have some bright color about me, if it were only a 
 few feathers." 
 
 "Better be content with what Nature has given 
 you, my dear," said old Mrs. Blackbird. "You 
 ought to be thankful that you have no bright plum- 
 age to make all the ladies wish they had you for 
 their hats, and render you an easy mark for bad 
 boys and plume-hunters. I have always been 
 thankful that I was ugly, although, to be sure, that 
 
 has not saved our family from being made into pot 
 
 
 pies. 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 11 
 
 "Shee-ee!" came from several neighbors, and 
 the two stopped their talk and gave attention to the 
 speaker. 
 
 Mrs. Hummer 
 
 "I feel," Mr. Mocker was saying, "that there 
 should be a number of committees appointed to look 
 after the affairs of next year's meeting. We shall 
 need a committee on arrangements whose duty it 
 will be to select a suitable place for us to gather and 
 who will attend to all arrangements. A refresh- 
 ment committee also will be needed to see that there 
 is an abundant supply of suitable food at hand. 
 I" 
 
12 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Mr. President/' interrupted Mr. Thrasher, "I 
 suggest that you combine these two committees, ap- 
 pointing five to secure a suitable location, keeping 
 our victualing needs in mind." 
 
 "That is a good idea, Mr. Thrasher, and if there 
 is no objection, I will appoint such a committee." 
 
 There being no objection the Chairman proceeded: 
 "I think I had better place on this committee three res- 
 ident birds who are familiar with all suitable locali- 
 ties, and two ladies, the fair sex knowing best where 
 the juicy tidbits are to be found. I will name Mr. 
 Thrasher, Mr. Flicker, Mr. Wren, Mrs. Swallow 
 and Mrs. Bushtit. I should like this committee to be 
 ready to report at the end of the Convention." 
 
 "I think I had better be excused from this com- 
 mittee, Mr. President," spoke up Mrs. Bushtit, "for 
 I have a nest full of eggs that need my almost con- 
 stant attention. I slipped away only for a few 
 minutes and must hurry right back. Mr. Bushtit, 
 you know, never broods the eggs," explained the 
 tiny gray bird in apology. 
 
 "We do not like to excuse you, Mrs. Bushtit, be- 
 cause you are so well versed in the best foraging 
 places in these parts." 
 
 "I should be only too glad to help but family 
 duties must come first, Mr. President." 
 
 "I think," said Mr. Thrasher, as he rose from his 
 seat on the ground, "that if Mrs. Bushtit will meet 
 with us once and give us the benefit of her knowl- 
 edge we can excuse her from further work on the 
 committee." 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 13 
 
 "Will you accept on these conditions, Mrs. Bush- 
 tit?" asked the President. 
 
 Mrs. Bushtit accepting, the President proceeded 
 with the appointment of other committees. On the 
 program committee were placed Mr. Meadowlark, 
 Mrs. Long T. Chat, Mr. W. Bluebird, Mr. Russet 
 B. Thrush and Mr. H. Finch. After due discussion, 
 it was decided that the press committee, whose busi- 
 ness it was to see that all the birds knew of this Con- 
 vention, consisted of one summer visitor, one winter 
 visitor, one resident bird, and one migrant, each bird 
 to spread the news in his locality wherever he spent 
 his time. The Chairman then announced, "I will 
 place on this committee Mr. Whitecrowned Sparrow 
 to represent the winter visitors. Mr. Sparrow, we will 
 expect you to take North with you the notice of 
 our next meeting. Mr. Bullock Oriole, we wish 
 you to take a like message South when you leave 
 us in the fall. Mr. W. Tanager, you will please 
 take this message North with you now, and South 
 when you go next fall. To represent those of us 
 who are always here I will place Mr. A. Goldfinch. 
 Of course all of those who are present will tell every 
 bird we meet during the coming year about this 
 present meeting and urge all to come next year." 
 
 "Buzz, buzz, buzz," came from the back of the 
 audience and a voice that seemed loud for so tiny 
 a feathered mite, said: "Ought we not to have 
 badges, Mr. President? One of my little friends 
 had on a bright red one the other day. I might 
 not have known about it but I thought it was a 
 flower and flew right up to it before I saw that it 
 
14 THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 
 
 was not," and Mr. Hummingbird held himself 
 poised motionless in the air, save for his tiny wings, 
 which he beat rapidly to support his body. The 
 
 Mrs. Anna Hummingbird Who Built Her Nest on 
 Two Peaches 
 
 clumsy Blue jay, watching, remarked to his neigh- 
 bor that he wished he could do that. Mr. Spar- 
 row-Hawk whispered back that it was not so hard 
 as it looked. He could do it and often did when 
 sighting prey. 
 
 "I know, Mr. Hummer," said the President, "that 
 people often wear badges but I hardly see how we 
 could wear them. What does the Convention think?" 
 
 "I hardly think we could wear a ribbon badge; it 
 would be so much in the way as we foraged 
 among the trees and grass," said Mrs. Plain Tit- 
 mouse. 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 15 
 
 "And surely we could not fasten a button to our 
 feathers," said Mr. Blackbird. 
 
 Mr. Brewer Blackbird 
 
 "I would suggest," said Mrs. Phainopepla, senti- 
 mentally, "that it be the duty of all birds attending 
 this Convention to keep themselves supplied with a 
 fresh flower which they can tie about their necks." 
 
 "We might adopt a Convention flower," came 
 from the audience. 
 
 "I should like the poppy," spoke up shiny Mr. 
 Blackbird, thinking, no doubt, how beautiful a yel- 
 low flower would look against his black coat. The 
 tiny hummingbird brought a laugh to the assembly 
 by saying he hardly saw how he could manage a 
 poppy. This caused the President to say that he 
 thought the idea of twining a flower about their necks 
 a very good one, and he suggested that as many as 
 
16 THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 
 
 could do so, should comply with this request. How- 
 ever, he did not think that it should be compulsory. 
 As it was getting late, and there was some uneasi- 
 ness in the audience, the President declared the meet- 
 ing adjourned for supper. A great hubbub immedi- 
 ately arose as the members moved about greeting 
 each other and making arrangements for their even- 
 ing meal. 
 
 Mr. Phainopepla 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE EVENING MEAL. 
 
 There was a general shifting around and getting 
 together of families, while everybody chattered or 
 sang as they found suitable eating places. The 
 Goldfinch family drew together in friendly com- 
 radeship and opened their lunches which consisted 
 of seeds. 
 
 "I was not sure that we would find any seeds near 
 here," explained Mrs. Goldfinch, as she passed her 
 basket around. You know our family does not care 
 much for insects. We are almost vegetarians." 
 
 "We, too, are fond of seeds," spoke up Mr. Lin- 
 net," although few people seem to realize it, and we 
 are sentenced by law and even denied protection be- 
 cause sometimes we take a little fruit." 
 
 "It is an awful thing to think we are different from 
 all the other birds and are not considered good cit- 
 izens," and with a leaf Mrs. Linnet wiped a tear 
 from her eye. 
 
 "And to think that all through the winter months 
 Linnets are doing so much good, eating the seeds of 
 noxious weeds," spoke up her cousin in her defence. 
 
 "Mamma, I'm hungry," cried a small gray linnet. 
 
 "Be patient, my daughter; you will have some- 
 thing soon. They do not care for seeds, yet," said 
 the fond mamma, turning to Mrs. Goldfinch, "and 
 so I brought some of the nice bread-crumbs which 
 the lady at our house keeps out for us." 
 
18 
 
 THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 
 
 "I do not care for bread-crumbs," said Mrs. 
 Goldfinch. "I consider the grain in its natural state 
 much more nutritious.*' 
 
 Mrs. Linnet's Babies at the Window-shelf 
 
 "We all like them," replied Mrs. Linnet. "It has 
 been such a help for the babies. As soon as they 
 could fly we took them to the window-shelf and 
 taught them to help themselves to the soft bread. 
 The little dears are so fond of it." The begging 
 for bread which followed this announcement proved 
 the truth of the mother's statement. 
 
 The Phainopepla family had brought berries; 
 some, those of the pepper tree ; others, the blue berries 
 of the deadly nightshade; and still others, elder- 
 berries. 
 
 "We find these nightshades very nutritious," ex- 
 plained Mrs. Phainopepla. "Papa and I are very 
 fond of them. Of course, we like insects, too, and 
 no doubt can find some here for dessert." 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 19 
 
 "How handsome Mr. Phainopepla is," said Mrs. 
 Brown Towhee, as she glanced from her demure, 
 somber mate to the handsome blackbird, with his 
 jaunty crest. "They say, too, that he is as good as 
 he is handsome. A very unusual combination, I 
 am sure. Just to think he builds most of the nest 
 himself and will hardly allow Mrs. Phainopepla 
 to help at all." 
 
 "My dear, you know I always want to help you 
 with the nest building," said Mr. Brown Towhee 
 in an aggrieved tone. 
 
 "I know you do, husband, but I prefer to do it 
 myself. If you want a thing well done, do it your- 
 self, I say." 
 
 "Not very complimentary," said her good-natured 
 spouse, with a knowing wink to his cousin, Mr. 
 Spurred Towhee. 
 
 The Cedar Waxwing family were seated to- 
 gether in their usual gregarious way not far from 
 their distinguished cousins, the Phainopeplas. They, 
 too, were eating berries, but they were mostly the 
 red berries of the pepper-tree. As they ate they dis- 
 cussed the relative merits of the Mountain-ash berries 
 and the fruit of the pepper-tree. 
 
 "For my part I am very fond of these pepper ber- 
 ries," said old Mr. Waxwing, "and they are said 
 to be excellent for the digestion. To be sure they 
 have not the delicate flavor of the Mountain-ash ber- 
 ries, but I like them best." 
 
 "I am true to my early love," announced Mrs. 
 Waxwing. "I like Mountain-ash berries best, indi- 
 gestion or no." 
 
20 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 "How do you know so much about the Mountain- 
 ash berries, Grandma, dear?" asked a young bird. 
 "I have never seen any of them." 
 
 "I suppose you have not, my pet; but you see 
 Uncle and I once lived in the East." 
 
 "Oh, do tell us about it," cried several of the 
 younger birds who had not heard the story. The 
 elders exchanged knowing glances, for to them the 
 story was an old and tiresome one. Grandma Wax- 
 wing, however, never neglected to tell the wonder- 
 ful tale when she had a listener and prepared now 
 with as much zest and enthusiasm as if she had never 
 told it before. 
 
 One of the Phainopeplas 
 
 "You see," she began, "something happened to 
 our parents when we were very young, and a kind 
 lady adopted us. She dearly loved birds and knew 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 21 
 
 just how to care for us, which most mortals do not, 
 and so we lived and learned to love our benefactress 
 very much, indeed. We were so tame and knew so 
 little about taking care of ourselves that our mistress 
 did not dare let us out, even when we were grown, 
 and when she moved West we were brought in a 
 cage all the way. It was fall when we reached 
 California and all winter long it was so nice and 
 warm that we lived out of doors in a big cage built 
 for us. Often large flocks of our relatives would 
 come to eat in the pepper-trees that grew above our 
 cage. At first we were afraid of them, but gradu- 
 ally, we lost all fear and became quite well ac- 
 quainted. They used to light on the cage and tell 
 us how nice it was to be able to fly just where you 
 pleased. As Spring approached they told of the 
 trip North that they would soon take and begged 
 us to join them. I did not think that it would be 
 right to leave our dear mistress, but as Spring ad- 
 vanced, I did have a longing to get out and try my 
 wings in real flight. It was spring- fever, I guess; that 
 is what Mistress called it, anyway. To make me 
 more uneasy, one of the flock of birds took a special 
 fancy to me. He was a beautiful bird and he used 
 to bring me berries and feed them to me through the 
 bars of the cage. Finally, brother and I became so 
 uneasy that Mistress told her mate that she thought 
 she ought to let us out. She said that it was such a 
 mild climate that she believed we would get along 
 all right and she was sure Nature was calling us. So, 
 one day, she left the cage open and the flock of birds, 
 my lover among them, begged so hard, that we joined 
 
22 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 them. Mistress cried when she saw us go and we 
 felt so sorry to leave her that we went back twice 
 and lighted on her shoulder. Several times after 
 that, also, we left the flock and went to her, and she 
 was so pleased and called us 'her darlings' and said 
 she hated so to lose us, but knew it was best for 
 us to go. At first it seemed so queer for us to be 
 with a flock of our kind flying about. There were 
 so many new things for us to see that it was a con- 
 stant delight. We learned, too, that there were dan- 
 gers to be encountered and that we must look out for 
 cats, and boys with sling-shots, and men with guns. 
 Of course, we are protected by law in this State, but 
 in some places there is no one to see that the law is 
 enforced and we have to look out. One reason that 
 we like to come here is because there is an Audubon 
 Society near by and members will not let any one 
 hurt us. We feel so safe in this locality. Well, 
 finally, it was time to go North, and we all went to- 
 gether. We flew to our old home for a last farewell. 
 Our Mistress was in the house, and we saw her 
 through the window. She looked so sweet and pretty 
 that I was almost tempted to go back and stay with 
 her, but when I looked at my beautiful lover, I de- 
 cided to follow him. That is all of the story, my 
 dears." 
 
 "That was fine," said one. 
 
 "Did you see that lady when you came back the 
 next spring?" asked another. 
 
 "Yes, the first thing brother and I did when we 
 returned South the next winter was to return to our 
 old home. It was a beautiful day, and there sat our 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 23 
 
 dear Mistress in the yard holding such a dear little 
 baby. I longed to go and tell her that I had three 
 little dears of my own. The babies were with us and 
 
 Mrs. California Towhee 
 
 I wanted to take them to her, but they were shy and 
 would not go. You know children never will show 
 off when you want them to. Just as soon as Mistress 
 heard us, she looked up and exclaimed: 'Oh, look, 
 baby dear, the Cedar Birds are back! I wonder if 
 Fluffy and Bright-eyes are in that flock?' and she 
 gave the call she used to have for us. It seemed so 
 natural to brother and me that we both flew out 
 from the flock before we realized what we were 
 doing and circled about near her. She was so de- 
 lighted and cried : * You darling birds ! I am so glad 
 that you are safe and happy. I am just sure that 
 those were my birds,' I heard her say to the baby, 
 
24 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 as our flock flew away. Some one else was in the 
 house when we returned another year, so I suppose 
 Mistress had moved somewhere else. I am always 
 on the lookout for her, but I fear I shall not see her 
 again." 
 
 "You were never sorry that you left her, were you, 
 Grandma?'* asked one of the birds. 
 
 "No, indeed. A bird's place is in the open as 
 Nature intended." 
 
 Master Grosbeak 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 A FRIENDLY DISCUSSION. 
 
 The Thrasher family had not brought any lunch 
 and forthwith set about thrashing among the dead 
 leaves beneath the trees with their long, crooked 
 bills. 
 
 "We were sure that we could find enough grubs 
 for our supper," said one of the gentlemen, " and 
 they are so much better when fresh. They shrivel 
 and lose their delicious flavor when kept long." 
 
 "I suppose you never thought of the noise you 
 would make with all your digging," said Mr. Jay, 
 saucily. 
 
 "I am sure we do not mind it in the least," said 
 several of the birds hurriedly, to assure Mrs. 
 Thrasher, who had at once stopped her work. 
 
 "I never thought of its disturbing anybody," she 
 said sorrowfully. "Come, children, we can just as 
 well go to another tree,** and away she flew, fol- 
 lowed by three promising young ones, who were as 
 large as herself and looked just like her. 
 
 "I think it was a shame for Mr. Jay to say any- 
 thing to lovely Mrs. Thrasher,** said Mrs. Black 
 Phoebe. "She is so sweet and quiet when not 
 thrashing among the leaves, and she would not have 
 been noticed above the din we are making. It is a 
 shame to hurt her feelings." 
 
 "What a beautiful voice Mr. Thrasher has," said 
 Mrs. Western Flycatcher. "You know I am not 
 a resident here and only pass through these parts 
 
26 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 while traveling, and though the fame of his voice 
 has reached me in my distant home, I never happened 
 to hear him until this spring." 
 
 "Can that be possible?" answered his cousin, Mrs. 
 Wood Pewee. "I nest in a tree above his favorite 
 foraging ground and am often put to sleep by his 
 sweet voice. I suppose I appreciate it the more be- 
 cause Mr. Pewee and I are not singers. None of our 
 family are." 
 
 "That is a thing I have always neglected," spoke 
 up Mr. Arkansas Kingbird. "Mrs. Kingbird and 
 I try hard enough to be musical, but with little suc- 
 cess, I fear." 
 
 "I should say so," whispered Mr. Grosbeak, an 
 authority on musical matters. "Such a noise as the 
 
 Little Miss Grosbeak 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 27 
 
 Kingbirds make. They are very devoted to each 
 other, and want everyone to know it; so they keep 
 up a continuous chattering. I did not know before 
 that they were trying to sing!" and handsome Mr. 
 Grosbeak chuckled at the idea. 
 
 "Mrs. Vireo and I always get our home as far 
 away as possible from Mr. and Mrs. Kingbird just 
 on that account," said dainty Mr. Warbling Vireo. 
 
 "I should think you would, Mr. Vireo," replied 
 Mr. Grosbeak. "Your family are real singers." 
 
 "Indeed, you are!" said Mrs. Summer Warbler, 
 joining in the conversation. "I always envy you your 
 ability to sing. I get so tired of my monotonous 
 ci-d-ci." 
 
 "Well, Mrs. Summer Warbler," replied Mr. 
 Vireo," if I were as handsome as you are I should 
 not care whether I sang or not," and the modest- 
 plumaged gray bird cast longing eyes upon the beau- 
 tiful yellow one near by. 
 
 "I suppose," replied Mr. Warbler, "that there 
 are compensations in Nature. Those who have the 
 brightest, most beautiful plumage do not have the 
 sweetest voices, and those of us who have the sweet- 
 est voices lack the bright plumage." 
 
 "I have often thought of that," said Mr. Vireo. 
 "However, there are exceptions, of course. I think 
 the Grosbeak family might come under that head 
 since they are bright-plumaged and exceptional 
 singers, also." 
 
 "Many bright plumaged birds have sweet songs," 
 spoke up a jolly little Chickadee. 
 
28 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Indeed they do!" said Mr. Mocker, entering 
 into the discussion; "but few of them are really noted 
 singers like the Nightingales, Thrashers, Thrushes, 
 and members of my own immediate family." 
 
 The Shrike Twins 
 
 What promised to be a most interesting discussion 
 was cut short by the passing overhead of Mr. Sharp- 
 shinned Hawk. Instantly the smaller birds became 
 as rigid as statues so that they would not attract Mr. 
 Hawk's attention, while the Policeman Blackbirds 
 and Kingbirds set off to chase the intruder. Soon 
 he was ducking and dodging to escape the blows 
 from their bills, which they were using to good ad- 
 vantage. The birds of the Convention, feeling that 
 all danger was passed, set up their cheerful chatter 
 again, continuing their evening meal and their 
 friendly intercourse. The Jays for their meal ate 
 walnuts which they had brought from their home 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 29 
 
 trees. Some of them had acorns from the oak trees 
 and others ate beans from the castor-oil bean trees. 
 These they wedged into a crack or against some firm 
 substance and pounded into bits with their strong 
 bills. 
 
 "How powerful Mr. Jay is," said Mr. Cliff Swal- 
 low, admiringly. "Perhaps it would be better for 
 him if he were not so able to crack nuts," said one 
 of the party. "You know it is because of his fond- 
 ness for gathering almonds that he is not given pro- 
 tection." 
 
 "Well, for my part, I would be glad if he would 
 confine himself to taking nuts and not sometimes 
 sample birds' eggs," said Mrs. Western Gnatcatcher. 
 
 "Now, my dear," spoke up Mr. Gnatcatcher, 
 "You know we have never really seen Mr. Jay tak- 
 ing any eggs, and it is best not to accuse him when 
 we are not sure." 
 
 "Well, I suppose not, but I do not like him any- 
 way," and the lady darted out after a tempting gnat 
 that came her way. 
 
 Soon after this, Mr. Shrike electrified the company 
 by dropping from a high post on which he was 
 perched into the grass below and returning with a 
 large Jerusalem cricket, or potato bug. 
 
 "Wee-e!" cried a number of small birds, "what 
 an awful creature! How dare Mr. Shrike touch it?" 
 
 "Isn't he brave though!" said a tiny Bushtit. 
 
 "How can he touch the horrid thing?" queried 
 Mrs. Costa Hummer. Such a repulsive creature," 
 and she buzzed about above the heads of the others 
 in great excitement. 
 
30 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 The Shrike, paying no attention to all this hubbub, 
 placed one foot on the dead insect and with his 
 
 Mrs. Shrike's Happy Family 
 
 hooked bill tore it into bits, which he ate with evi- 
 dent relish. 
 
 "Did you know, whispered Mrs. Blackbird to 
 Mrs. Varied Thrush, "that Mr. Shrike is a very fine 
 singer?" 
 
 "No, indeed! I thought he gave only a most un- 
 canny call. Can he really sing?*' 
 
 "Yes, he has quite a musical little song. It seems 
 queer to think of its coming from such a hooked 
 bill." 
 
 The California Woodpecker family, like the Jays, 
 were eating acorns. These they had brought from 
 a near-by tree where they had them stored; each 
 nut tightly fitting into a snug hole which they had 
 chiseled out for it and into which they had pounded 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 31 
 
 it with their strong beaks. "Carpenter birds" they 
 were rightly called by their companions. Occasion- 
 ally one of the large clumsy birds would fly out 
 from the crowd and come back with a tiny insect 
 added to his portion of nuts, for these birds are also, 
 sometimes, flycatchers. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Red-shafted Flicker were intent 
 upon eating ants from burrows in the ground which 
 they had hunted out. It seemed queer work for so 
 large birds, but it was their choice. 
 
 The Hummingbird Tzvins 
 
 "Did you know that sometimes Mr. Flicker eats 
 as many as 3000 ants at a time?" said Mrs. Tit- 
 mouse to her cousin, Mrs. Wrentit. 
 
 "Indeed, no ! Can it be possible?" exclaimed that 
 birdie. 
 
32 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Yes," continued Mrs. Titmouse, "I heard a 
 teacher reading that to her pupils one day as I for- 
 aged in a tree near the window of a schoolhouse." 
 
 "Isn't it strange," spoke up Mr. Robin," that in 
 the East the Flicker family have yellow under their 
 wings and tail while in the West they have red?" 
 
 "Well, I should say so!" exclaimed several birds. 
 
 "The Flickers are very handsome, but they are 
 not singers," said Mrs. Bluebird. I remember once 
 that my babies were nearly scared into hysterics by 
 their call. Such a time as I had quieting the little 
 dears." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kingfisher, who had made a special 
 effort to be present at this first convention, excused 
 themselves to the President and flew to the near-by 
 stream for their meal. "It was hardly possible to 
 bring enough fish for our lunch," explained Mr. 
 Kingfisher. "You know fish to be really good must 
 be fresh. Mrs. Kingfisher and I are very particular 
 about our food. In this day of so much ptomaine 
 poisoning one can not be too careful." 
 
 "No, indeed," agreed Mr. Mocker. "We hope 
 that you will come back for the evening anthem." 
 
 "Thank you," replied Mrs. Kingfisher. "It will 
 hardly be worth while. You know we are not a 
 musical family. Our presence would only produce 
 discord." 
 
 When Mr. Mocker politely demurred, Mrs. 
 Kingfisher promised that they would return for the 
 morning chorus, and so with farewells to all the 
 birds, they flew away. 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 33 
 
 "There is a pretty legend connected with the 
 Kingfisher family," said Mr. Dove. 
 
 "Oh, what is it," cried several of the younger 
 birds. "We never heard it." 
 
 Mr. Blackbird's Son 
 
 "It is said that originally all the members of this 
 family were clothed in dull colored plumage, but 
 the Kingfisher that was liberated from Noah's Ark 
 flew toward the setting sun. On its back was re- 
 flected the blue sky, while its breast was scorched 
 by the rays of the heat-giving orb." 
 
 "Humph! I don't believe that," said prosaic Mr. 
 Blackbird. "I never was much of a believer in leg- 
 ends, anyhow." 
 
 "It is a very pretty story, whether it is true or not," 
 said Mrs. W. Tanager. 
 
34 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Perhaps Mr. Dove can tell us as to its authen- 
 ticity, since his family played so important a part in 
 the history of the Ark," suggested Mr. Mocker. 
 
 "No, I am afraid that I cannot verify the story," 
 replied Mr. Dove. It is one of the legends which 
 has been handed down in our family from the begin- 
 ning of time and none of us have ever questioned 
 its truth. Had we done so, I suppose our Fore- 
 father who was liberated from the Ark could have 
 given us the correct information." 
 
 "Well, I'm going to ask Mr. Kingfisher about it 
 when I see him next," said Mr. Blackbird, not quite 
 satisfied. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BIRD CHORUSES. 
 
 Mr. Mockingbird, seeing that all the birds had 
 finished their evening meal and were beginning to 
 look about for night quarters, called the Assembly 
 together for the "Retiring Anthem." 
 
 "I would like every one to sing," he announced, 
 "and, remember, this will close the first day of our 
 annual Convention. Tomorrow morning we wish 
 you all to awaken early and be ready to join in the 
 grand 'Daybreak Chorus.' We will close promptly 
 at noon, so that those of you who stayed over for 
 this meeting will be no longer delayed. We want 
 you to come another year so we'll do our best to 
 please you. Our Retiring Anthem tonight opens 
 with a song. Mr. Russet-backed Thrush, will you 
 please lead us?" 
 
 In answer, the liquid notes of the Thrush rang 
 clear and loud on the still twilight air, but no sooner 
 had he opened up his theme than his voice was 
 drowned by the many who joined in. The mortals 
 living nearby marvelled at this unusual music of birds. 
 
 "Listen to that wonderful music, mother dear," 
 said one of them. "Does it not take you back to old 
 New England?" 
 
 "Hark, I hear a Thrush!" in awed tones, whis- 
 pered the mother, who was able to discern the voice 
 of her favorite even among the many others. To- 
 gether, motionless, they listened to the liquid notes 
 of that marvelous singer as they floated up to them. 
 
36 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 The chorus was not long, for the twilight hours 
 were short, and most of the members of the Conven- 
 tion ready for sleep. A few individuals, however, 
 kept up the music far into the night. The Mocker 
 family were the principal singers, but Mr. Long- 
 tailed Chat also kept up his loud whistling to the mys- 
 tification of some of his human listeners. Now he 
 whistled exactly like a man calling a dog, the imita- 
 tion being so perfect that those who knew marvelled 
 that a bird could make such a human call; now it 
 was a dog answering, with a hoarse bark, a call even 
 more wonderful than the whistle ; now it was a more 
 bird-like chatter, or call. 
 
 With the coming of daylight the Daybreak 
 Chorus was rendered with surprising vigor. In mel- 
 odious waves it rolled, increasing in volume as the 
 various songsters awoke and added their voices. 
 
 Mrs. Arkansas Goldfinch and Family 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 37 
 
 Awakened from their slumbers were many human 
 beings. Some grumbled to be so aroused and wished 
 the birds were voiceless; others, filled with delight 
 at this glorious outburst, lay and drank it in, for- 
 getting that there was such a thing as sleep. 
 
 Mr. Linnet was pouring forth his soul in wild 
 ecstasy, the refrain bubbling forth in an unceasing 
 strain which was taken up and borne along by his 
 brother Linnets. The jolly little Goldfinches were 
 singing "Sweet, Sweet," to their mates who answered 
 "Dear, Dear," thereby causing the males to sing 
 forth in joyous babbling. "It is just good to be 
 alive," they seemed to say. The Wrens, not to be 
 out-done by the happy Finches, were nearly splitting 
 their tiny throats, and a melodious song came bub- 
 bling forth which delighted all listeners. Their 
 cousins, the Thrashers, were adding their mite, and 
 a glorious contribution it was. The Vireos sang 
 loud melodious songs, stopping now and again, how- 
 ever, to hear those birds whom they had never be- 
 fore heard sing, but whose fame had reached them. 
 The Ruby-crowned Kinglets, who had remained, 
 were so engrossed with the other performers that 
 for a time they forgot to sing, but, suddenly, one lit- 
 tle midget .opened his tiny bill and the loud har- 
 monious song that came forth made more than one 
 bird stop and listen. "Exquisite!" exclaimed Mr. 
 Grosbeak. "I had no idea the Kinglet family had 
 such fine voices. You see they usually go North 
 before I arrive and so I have never heard them be- 
 fore. How marvelous that so loud a song can come 
 from so tiny a bird." As if to show that size did 
 
38 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 not count, Mr. Anna Hummer began his squeeky, 
 wheezy song. "Teedle, teedle, teedle, Chirrup, chir- 
 rup, chirrup," he sang, again and again, making 
 some of the large birds smile in amusement. 
 
 Mrs. Hummingbird 
 
 Mr. B. Oriole was singing his short, sweet song, 
 while his cousin, Mr. Hooded Oriole, was trying 
 to be heard, but so low and whisper-like was his 
 warble, that he made little impression. Mr. Califor- 
 nia Woodpecker cackled, "Ja-cab, Ja-cab" in his 
 loud voice, varying this call by a purring, guttural 
 one. The Jays joined in with their unpleasant call, 
 which did not add to the musical part of the per- 
 formance. The Kingfishers true to their word, had 
 returned for the morning chorus, but were considerate 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 39 
 
 enough not to do much "singing." Only an occa- 
 sional hard rattling noise told of their presence. The 
 Meadowlarks were singing their musical songs, pro- 
 claiming in no uncertain way, the coming of daylight. 
 Theirs was a glorious song, and because of its car- 
 rying qualities, was heard by many a listening mortal. 
 Phoebes and Wood-Pewees, anxious to contrib- 
 ute their share, were doing their best, which, however, 
 was only a single plaintive note. Song-Sparrows 
 sang hilariously, doing much to make this Daybreak 
 Chorus a success. Phainopeplas sang their weak lit- 
 tle song, Cedar Waxwings "sighed" from the tree- 
 tops where they were congregated, Spurred Towhees 
 trilled and "skee-ed" from the underbrush, in short, 
 all did their very best to make a glorious chorus. 
 Roundelay after roundelay, pealed forth from 
 countless throats until the sun had peeped forth from 
 his nightly couch and with his cheerful face had 
 driven away the shadows. Not till then did the 
 chorus cease. With the coming of the sun the hungry 
 birds fell to eating. Indeed, they had earned their 
 breakfasts. 
 
CHAPTER V. ' 
 
 THE TRIALS OF NEST-BUILDING. 
 
 Promptly at eight o'clock Mr. Mockingbird called 
 the Convention to order for the morning session. 
 Rather early it would have seemed to their human 
 brothers, but since the birds had awakened so early, 
 all had had their breakfasts, and there being no dishes 
 to wash, or houses to put in order, they were ready 
 for business. 
 
 "Now," began Mr. Mocker, "we are anxious to 
 hear from all the families in order to know how you 
 have fared during the past year. Undoubtedly, some 
 of you have met with sorrows ; others, I am sure, will 
 have nothing but joys to report. In order to hear 
 from all you must speak rapidly, leaving out that 
 which will not be of especial interest." 
 
 Scarcely had he ceased speaking when there arose 
 a great hubbub from those assembled, each being 
 anxious to tell his, or her, story. 
 
 "One at a time, please," laughed the Chairman. 
 "Mrs. Swallow, we will be glad to hear from you." 
 
 Instantly there was quiet, each bird wishing to 
 hear Mrs. Swallow's story. 
 
 "Well," began Mrs. Cliff Swallow, "my story is 
 not altogether a pleasant one. You know we go 
 South every fall. We had a very nice time during 
 the past winter and spring. The people down South 
 like our family and try to be good to us because we 
 eat so many of the cotton-boll weevils that destroy 
 the cotton crop. We are fond of these weevils and 
 catch them as they fly about the cotton, thus 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 41 
 
 saving the crop for more than one planter. But when 
 we come North to nest we are not always treated 
 so well. Some people object to our building our 
 nests under the eaves of their buildings and drive us 
 away. That is not so bad because we can try some- 
 where else but some people are so cruel as to let us 
 build our nests, and then, when our babies are small, 
 they tear down our homes, killing very many of our 
 young and leaving others to be eaten by prowling 
 cats. It is so discouraging," and the little Swallow 
 sighed. 
 
 "Sometimes when we nest on school-houses they 
 even allow the children to kill us," spoke up a mem- 
 ber of the family. "Most school-houses do not have 
 
 Mrs. Cliff -swalloiv's Babies 
 
 screens, and the flies bother the children so they can 
 not study, and yet they will not let us stay and eat 
 the flies," said a third. 
 
42 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "The flies carry disease, too," said another. 
 
 "Some people like us," spoke up Mrs. Cliff -Swal- 
 low. "I know a lady who was very kind to one of 
 our nestlings that had fallen from the nest and been 
 picked up by a passing child. This lady who cared 
 for Birdikin made food for him of the yolk of a 
 hard-boiled egg and a potato mashed together." 
 
 "What a queer food." 
 
 "Yes, it sounds queer, but Birdikin said it tasted 
 very good. Then the whole family caught flies for 
 him and it was a great deal of work because they 
 had so few flies. They searched in the yard and 
 even went to the neighbors to beg flies." 
 
 "I wish I had found that place to build," said one 
 of the Swallows, who had had such a time trying 
 to build her nest. 
 
 "I know just how to sympathize with you," spoke 
 up Mrs. Black Phoebe. "It seemed as if I never 
 should get my nest built this last spring. I picked 
 out a place over a window which we had used suc- 
 cessfully the year before to raise our three broods in, 
 and began carrying mud and fiber for a new nest. I 
 had worked a couple of days on it when a family, 
 who had just moved in, turned the hose on my house 
 and knocked it down. They gave as their excuse that 
 they had just painted the house and we would make 
 it dirty. The lady said also that there were plenty 
 of trees for us to build in, which was true, only we 
 Phoebes always build a mud nest which we fasten 
 onto some building. We do not care for trees. 
 Well, I tried again and again, working hard, and 
 each time they tore it down so that, finally, I had 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 43 
 
 to give it up and go across the street where nicer 
 people lived." 
 
 "I suppose the people who tore down your nest 
 did not know how much good you do by eating flies, 
 mosquitoes, moths, etc.?" said Mrs. Bushtit. 
 
 "Oh, I presume not," replied Mrs. Phoebe, resign- 
 edly. "Some people are so ignorant in regard to the 
 value of our work and too selfish to care what be- 
 comes of us." 
 
 "We have such a nice nesting place," spoke up 
 another Mrs. Phoebe. "We have used the same 
 props under the eaves for several years and no one 
 molests us. We raised three broods of beautiful 
 children this year," and Mrs. Phoebe flirted her tail 
 in satisfaction. 
 
 "Well, I had a very dreadful time," spoke up tiny 
 Mrs. Costa Hummingbird. "You know I do all the 
 nest-building in our family, and it is no small matter 
 to gather down and spiders' webs enough for a nice 
 nest." 
 
 "I should say not," interrupted Mrs. Jay. "How 
 you ever build such a dear little nest is more than I 
 can see." 
 
 "Of course I could never construct a big one like 
 yours, Mrs. Jay. It would break my back to carry 
 some of the big sticks you use. Well, I got my nest 
 all built and fastened to a mulberry leaf in such a 
 nice shady yard. I even had my two eggs laid, and 
 they were just about to hatch, when a great big boy, 
 who was picking the ripe mulberries, spied me. I 
 fairly held my breath when he found me and, as it 
 proved, I had good reason to be scared, for he took 
 
44 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 out his knife and cut off the little twig that held my 
 nest." 
 
 "Oh, you poor dear!" exclaimed sympathetic 
 Mrs. Phoebe. 
 
 "We had a similar experience," said Mr. Bush- 
 tit. 
 
 Mrs. Bushtit's Nest 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 45 
 
 "Do tell us about it," came from several. 
 
 "We used the same nest that we had last year," 
 began Mr. Bushtit. "It was hung in a live-oak 
 tree that grew in a city lot, which was vacant, and 
 had proved such a good place the year before that 
 we felt we were safe. We worked about a month, 
 re-lining the old nest and getting it ready, and then 
 Mrs. Bushtit began brooding. After two weeks of 
 tiresome sitting, we found that the eggs were not 
 good, and so it was necessary to cover them up with 
 more building material, and make the nest fit for 
 another set. Well, we had just finished it and I had 
 laid two beautiful, creamy eggs, when one day we 
 came to the tree to find our home entirely gone. Even 
 the branch from which it swung was missing. A 
 
 man was trimming up the tree and had taken our 
 
 . 
 nest. 
 
 "What a shame, after all that work!" came from 
 the sympathetic audience. 
 
 "Yes, I admit that it was rather discouraging. I 
 heard a lady who had been most friendly to us tell- 
 ing a friend how she had tried to get the tree trimmers 
 to leave our nest, but it did not suit their plans to do 
 it. Of course we had to go to another tree and start 
 all over again. That third time, however, we had 
 no mishap and raised a family of eight, many of 
 whom are with us today." Papa Bushtit at the 
 mention of this fine family proudly puffed up his lit- 
 tle round body, until he looked more like a ball than 
 a bird. 
 
 "A bad boy took my nest, also," said Mrs. Wood 
 Pewee. "I built in a secluded place far away from 
 
46 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 homes, for I am just a little suspicious of mortals and 
 prefer the quietude of the forest. But it did not save 
 me, for after many trips of nest-building in which I 
 had taken pains to build a fine cup-shaped nest, dec- 
 orated with lichens, and had laid my eggs, a boy 
 came along and spied me. Although my nest was 
 on a slender limb, he managed to 'collect' it, and car- 
 ried it away, despite my distress." 
 
 Mr. Mocker had listened patiently to all these re- 
 citals, but at the close of Mrs. Pewee's tale, he 
 arose, and, after looking at the sun, said he believed 
 they had given as much time as possible to the trials 
 of nest building, and that after a few minutes recess, 
 they would discuss another important matter. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TRIALS OF YOUNG MOTHERS. 
 
 "Now," began Mr. Mocker, after he had called 
 the Convention to order, "we are going to take up a 
 subject in which you should all feel interested. If, 
 however, any of you do not care to listen to this dis- 
 cussion, please go quietly away so as not to disturb 
 others. Mr. Jim Crow, will you please act as mar- 
 shal and see that order prevails?" 
 
 "With pleasure, Mr. President," replied Mr. Jim 
 Crow. 
 
 "For a short time we will consider the trials of 
 young mothers," said the President. "I noticed that 
 Mrs. Brown Towhee had something to tell us when 
 
 Mr. C. Towhee 
 
48 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 we adjourned, and I am going to ask her to open the 
 discussion with her recent experiences.'* 
 
 Mrs. Towhee hopped forward and stood on a 
 stone before the assembly. 
 
 "I have had my trials, indeed, in raising a fam- 
 ily," began Mrs. Towhee. "We prefer nesting in 
 a garden or in the vines about the house and as 
 the people where we live like birds, we are never 
 molested. In fact, they are so anxious to have us 
 about, that they keep food out for us and even 
 put out rags for us to use in our nest building. But 
 after our babies are hatched, we have the most 
 dreadful time to raise them because of cats." A 
 wave of tumult arose from all sides, for many of 
 those present had suffered in the same way. 
 
 "Silence !" commanded the Chairman. "Let Mrs. 
 Towhee finish." 
 
 "There is not much more to tell," said Mrs. Tow- 
 hee. "Stray, prowling cats take most of our little 
 ones in spite of all the pains we and our human 
 
 friends take to protect them. It is most dishearten- 
 
 
 ing. 
 
 "I, too, had my little dears taken by cats only a 
 short time ago," spoke up Mrs. Linnet. "I had 
 never had so large a family before. There were 
 six of them, and I was looking forward to the time 
 when I could show them to all my friends, but it was 
 not to be." 
 
 "Why, they even got my darlings when I placed 
 the nest in a cactus plant," said another Linnet. 
 
 "I just had four darlings taken," spoke up an- 
 other Mrs. Towhee. "They were in a vine that 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 49 
 
 Mrs. Linnet's Nest in the Cactus Plant 
 
 grew on the back porch and were getting so strong 
 and handsome, when, one night, I was awakened by 
 a fiery-eyed monster who almost caught me and 
 who began eating my babies. Their cries brought 
 my. mistress to the porch and she scared the cat away, 
 but she was too late. I heard her lamenting the next 
 day because the nest was empty." 
 
 "And they climbed into the pampas-grass, where 
 we had our nest, and took our young also," said 
 Mrs. Song-Sparrow. "We are very fond of the 
 pampas-grass for a nesting-site and thought the 
 rough blades would keep away undesirable prowl- 
 ers, but we had to give up using that clump and 
 have had better luck since." 
 
 "A cat also took my family as soon as they were 
 hatched,'* said Mr. Phainopepla. 
 
 "And mine, too," came from Mrs. Rufous- 
 Crowned Sparrow. 
 
50 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Well," said the Chairman, "I guess that most 
 of us know what it means to have our families broken 
 up by those animals they call cats. They are, un- 
 doubtedly, our worst enemies. I understand that 
 it is the desire of many that they be licensed the same 
 as dogs. That would keep in check the strays." 
 
 "I do hope so!" "That would be fine!" came 
 from so many sources regardless of even bird-gram- 
 mar, that^the Chairman's voice was drowned. 
 
 "We are not bothered by cats," spoke up Mrs. 
 Bushtit, "because they cannot get at our long hang- 
 ing nest and our babies stay inside until they are able 
 to care for themselves." 
 
 "You are most fortunate in having so obedient 
 and obliging a family," said Mrs. Mocker. "My 
 children are always so ambitious that it is hard to 
 restrain them. They jump from the nest before they 
 can fly and it seems as if there was a cat lurking 
 under every bush. Then, so many people, seeing 
 the babies on the ground, pick them up and take 
 them home, and as most human beings do not know 
 how to feed them, most of them die. If they 
 would only pick them up and place them in a bush, 
 or some safe place, where we could feed them, it 
 would be so much better." 
 
 "Indeed it would," agreed several listeners. "I 
 should think they might know that the parent birds 
 were somewhere about when they see young birds." 
 
 "We had a most tragic time with snakes," spoke 
 up Mrs. Pacific-Yellowthroat. At the urgent re- 
 quest of those present she told her story. "We built 
 our nest in a clump of coarse grasses that grew 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 51 
 
 in a canyon away from human habitation and we 
 felt quite safe from boys and cats. Of course we 
 knew about snakes but we had never seen any about 
 
 Mrs. Towhee's Nest 
 
 and felt that this protected spot would be compara- 
 tively safe. Well, I laid four eggs and, after two 
 weeks of patient brooding, they hatched. Mr. Yel- 
 lowthroat and I were so proud of them and worked 
 so hard to feed them. They were such cunning lit- 
 tle dears, if I do say it as shouldn't. One -day when 
 they were nearly a week old, we came home only to 
 find the nest empty," and Mrs. Yellowthroat wiped 
 her eyes with her wing. 
 
 "Oh-oo!" came from tiny Mrs. Wren. "How 
 did you know what happened to them?" 
 
52 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "It was easy enough to tell, for, lying across the 
 nest just as if he owned it, was the horrid speckled 
 monster, sleeping after his meal." 
 
 "The audacity!" came from perky Mrs. Song- 
 Sparrow. 
 
 "Was it not sad?" said Mrs. Flicker to her neigh- 
 bor, Mrs. Chat. 
 
 "Indeed, yes," said that handsome lady. "I am 
 always afraid of snakes as I build low and in a wild 
 tangle. However, I have not as yet met with any 
 misfortune from that source. But listen. Mrs. 
 Spurred Towhee is speaking." 
 
 "I, also, had my babies taken by those crawling 
 monsters. My nest was placed right on the ground 
 under a clump of coarse grass. I laid three light 
 blue eggs, which were speckled with brown, and 
 brooded them two weeks, leaving only when I 
 wanted food. Mr. Towhee was always near-by 
 and often called to let me know where he was, but 
 he did none of the brooding. Well, the babies were 
 only a day old when this reptile came along and ate 
 them. He curled up in my nest after his villain- 
 ous act, too. A lady and girl came to see my little 
 ones and they heard my cry of distress and scared 
 the snake away with their umbrella, but they were 
 too late to save the darlings. They felt dreadfully 
 about it, and were sorry they had not come sooner 
 and by their presence kept the snake away." 
 
 "You can imagine my sorrow when I returned 
 with a juicy miller for the babies, to find Mrs. Tow- 
 hee in such distress and the little ones nowhere about. 
 We looked everywhere and called for them in hopes 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 53 
 
 the snake had not really gotten them, but of course 
 we knew he had and so, finally, I gave up looking 
 and ate the miller myself," said Mr. Spurred Tow- 
 hee. 
 
 Mrs. Song Sparrow 
 
 "Why didn't you give it to Mrs. Towhee?" asked 
 Miss Cedar Waxwing coquettishly. 
 
 "Well, I might have done so, but I never thought 
 of it, my dear," answered Mr. Towhee, his red eyes 
 twinkling at the idea. 
 
 "It seems to me that no one ever had more trouble 
 than I," spoke up Mrs. Dove in a mournful tone. 
 "Although we are given protection in 23 States in 
 the Union at all times of year, there are other States 
 where we are considered game birds and are hunted, 
 and that when our young are still in the nest." 
 
54 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "I call that a perfect shame!" exclaimed several in 
 the audience. 
 
 "I guess you would have thought it a shame if 
 you had had your kind husband shot down before 
 your very eyes and you had barely escaped with 
 your life. We were carrying food for the little ones 
 when the fatal shot rang out which killed Mr. Dove. 
 I have always felt very thankful that I escaped to 
 raise my children. Some of my neighbors were not 
 so fortunate and many of their young were left 
 to starve in the nests. One family of nestlings was 
 taken charge of by a kind lady who said she would 
 raise them, but others there were who cried pitifully 
 for days and finally died of starvation." 
 
 "Is it not terrible that our human brothers will do 
 such things?" said little Mrs. Kinglet. 
 
 "I know, Mrs. Mourning Dove," said Mr. 
 Mocker, "that you are much persecuted, but a sen- 
 timent in your favor is growing and I hope that at 
 our next Convention you can give a happier story." 
 
 "Our family has gone through a most nerve-rack- 
 ing experience this last year," said Mr. Meadowlark. 
 "One of the men who make the laws, being ignorant 
 of the good we do, tried to take us from the protected 
 list, and it required a hard fight to save us." 
 
 "Well, I declare," said old Mrs. Robin. "I 
 thought every one liked the Meadowlarks." 
 
 "Well, I believe that most people do like us," re- 
 plied Mr. Lark. "The Government, you know, con- 
 siders us one of the farmers' best friends and urges 
 everyone to protect us because we eat so many bugs, 
 worms, weevils, etc., that destroy the grain, but some 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 55 
 
 ignorant people, seeing us in the fields, think we are 
 eating the grain when it is not half as good as the 
 juicy bugs we find in it." 
 
 "It was a boy who did so much to help save us," 
 said Mrs. Meadowlark. "He had watched us and 
 knew how much good we did and he wrote his 
 father, who was a Senator, all about us and begged 
 him to save us. His father read the letter before the 
 other Senators and they voted down the bill that 
 aimed to take protection from us." 
 
 Mrs. Song-Sparrow's Nest 
 
56 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Was not that splendid of him," said Mr. Jay. 
 "I wish somebody would work that way to save me." 
 
 "And me, too," chimed in Mr. Linnet. 
 
 "So far we have had so many stories of disasters," 
 said the Chairman, "that it would be quite a relief to 
 hear from some of you who successfully raised your 
 families." 
 
 "I had an unusual experience," said Mr. Gairdner 
 Woodpecker. "We succeeded in raising our family 
 all right." 
 
 "Do let us hear about it," said Mr. Mocker. 
 
 "Mrs. Woodpecker and I selected an old syca- 
 more tree in a city park that joins an arroyo. I sup- 
 pose that we were unwise in our selection of a tree 
 as we placed our nest only about six feet from the 
 ground and on a limb from which a swing hung." 
 
 "But you know, my dear," interrupted Mrs. 
 Woodpecker, "that when we dug our hole for the 
 nest the swing was seldom used. We surely never 
 dreamed that it was such a popular park for picnics 
 or we would have selected another site." 
 
 "Yes, indeed," agreed her mate. "Well, we 
 got our nest made down in this old stump of a limb 
 and Mrs. Woodpecker laid the eggs and began 
 brooding. Everything went nicely until the babies 
 were hatched and then there were so many people in 
 the park that the swing was occupied most of the 
 time. Neither Mrs. Woodpecker nor I dared to go 
 and feed while the swing was occupied, so that the 
 nestlings often got very hungry. Then, too, some 
 one in the crowd always saw our hole and immedi- 
 ately all the children wanted to look in and stick their 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 57 
 
 fingers down. Of course they could not see to the 
 bottom of the nest, nor feel the babies until they got 
 quite large and then the little dears would take hold 
 of their fingers, thinking it was food, and how those 
 youngsters would squeal. They all thought we were 
 so cunning and they said it was such fun to watch 
 as we bobbed in and out of the hole. That seemed 
 so queer to us. There was one lady who came to 
 watch us every day and photograph us, whatever 
 that is. She put up a box-like thing on legs and 
 pointed it at our hole. Mrs. Woodpecker was very 
 much frightened, and for a long time refused to go 
 to the nest, but finally, seeing that no harm came to 
 me, she took courage and went, also." 
 
 "Well, how was I to know that it was not a gun?" 
 asked Mrs. Woodpecker. "I thought perhaps it 
 was put there on purpose to shoot me." 
 
 "So it was," laughed Mr. Chat, "but not to kill 
 
 it 
 you. 
 
 "The lady was very nice," continued Mr. Wood- 
 pecker, "and got the Superintendent to take the 
 swing down because she saw that we could not half 
 feed our children." 
 
 "Wasn't she good!" came from several. 
 
 "I heard her tell the park men that it had been 
 estimated that one of our cousins in the East, the 
 Downy Woodpecker, was worth over $500 to the 
 orchardist, because of the good he does in taking the 
 pupae of the codling moth, a most injurious insect. 
 She told them that she was sure that we were most 
 useful because we came so often to the nest with our 
 mouths filled to over-flowing with worms and other 
 
58 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 Mr. Woodpecker Taking Food to His Babies 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 59 
 
 injurious insects. She felt that we were doing so 
 much to help keep the park trees alive that the men 
 should help us to raise our family." 
 
 "She seemed to know a lot about you," said Mrs. 
 Robin. 
 
 "Well, she ought to. She visited us enough." 
 
 "That was just like a lady who watched our nest 
 last year," said Mrs. Phainopepla. "She came every 
 day and stayed and pried into our affairs. At first 
 I was very alarmed, but when I found she meant 
 well, I went about my affairs unmindful of her." 
 
 "I really think that she felt quite kindly to us," 
 said Mr. Phainopepla. 
 
 "Did you finally get your children out of the hole 
 safely?" asked Mrs. Western Bluebird. 
 
 "Yes, indeed, they came out when no picnic party 
 was about," said Mrs. Woodpecker. "We never 
 would have dared to have them do otherwise, for 
 some of the boys would have tried to catch them. 
 As it was we hastened them up high out of harm's 
 
 M 
 
 way. 
 
 "You surely had a novel experience," said Mr. 
 California Woodpecker. "We never take such 
 chances with our family, but build high and away 
 from picnic parties, if possible." 
 
 "One interesting experience Mr. Woodpecker has 
 forgotten to tell you," said Mrs. Woodpecker. "One 
 day when a picnic party was there and we were both 
 away getting worms, one of the girls thought that 
 they would help us and so dropped a crumb of bread 
 in the hole. When Mr. Woodpecker came he found 
 it there. Of course, the babies were too young to 
 
60 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 feed themselves, and anyway, they would not eat 
 bread. We realized the good intentions, but could 
 not leave the bread to clutter up the nest and so Mr. 
 Woodpecker took it out with him as soon as he found 
 it. No doubt some other bird found it and enjoyed 
 it." 
 
 Baby Goldfinch 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 EXPERIENCES. 
 
 "Now," said the President, "we want to hear 
 from other members of the assembly. Tell us what 
 you did last year; what experiences you had, and 
 anything helpful or interesting. Undoubtedly there 
 will be something by which we may profit this coming 
 season. 
 
 "We raised our family safely last year/* spoke up 
 Mrs. Arkansas Kingbird. 
 
 "We had five beautiful babies," said Mr. King- 
 bird, proudly. 
 
 "And they raised them in such a queer place," 
 interposed Mr. Mocker. "Do tell the Convention 
 about it, Mr. Kingbird." 
 
 "Did you think it a queer place, Mr. Mocker?" 
 asked Mrs. Kingbird. "We thought it so ideal that 
 we used it several seasons." 
 
 "It was on the top of a square electric light pole, 
 between two uprights that support the crossbars which 
 hold the wires," explained Mr. Kingbird. "We lined 
 it with sticks, strings, and feathers and it made a very 
 cosy nest. No cat or boy could very easily climb 
 the pole and from this lofty outlook Mrs. Kingbird 
 could see any possible danger." 
 
 "I should have thought that you would have 
 feared that the babies would fall out and break their 
 necks," said Mrs. B. Towhee, who knew from 
 experience what a task it was to keep ambitious 
 youngsters in the nest until they were able to keep 
 away from cats. 
 
62 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 Miss Towhee 
 
 "Well, Mrs. Towhee," said Mrs. Kingbird, "our 
 children are not so forward as yours. They stay in 
 the nest until they are fully feathered and can fly 
 from it. The dears are nearly three weeks old be- 
 fore they try their wings." 
 
 "How lovely," said Mrs. Towhee. "Mine are 
 only about nine days old when they get restless and 
 determine to leave the nest. They have scarcely 
 any tails and cannot fly at all." 
 
 "But they are lively hoppers, I've noticed," said 
 Mr. Blackbird. "They run like like gophers." 
 
 A shout went up among the birds. "You mean 
 squirrels, don't you?" asked one. 
 
 "Well, perhaps I do," replied Mr. Blackbird. 
 "Gophers are those things that burrow in the ground. 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 63 
 
 I guess I meant squirrels/' and he joined goodnatur- 
 edly in the fun with his companions. 
 
 "I had a queer experience last year/' spoke up 
 a member of the Oriole family. "It was when I was 
 only a youngster. I got too ambitious and tried to 
 leave the nest. A small boy, finding me on the 
 
 Mrs. Hummer's Nest in Eucalyptus Tree 
 
64 THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 
 
 ground, took me across the street to a lady who was 
 friendly to birds. She told the boy that he should 
 have left me on a bush near where he found me and 
 then my parents would have fed me. She started 
 to take me back, but there was an Oriole about who 
 seemed interested in me, and so she left me in a safe 
 place for him to feed. He coaxed me until I managed 
 to get up into a pepper-tree and he came and fed 
 me a few times and then, for some unknown reason, 
 he stopped and no Oriole would feed me, although I 
 cried lustily for food. The lady heard me and came 
 out and tried to catch me so that she could give 
 me food, but I would not let her. I got so hungry 
 that finally I tried to eat the leaves and things about 
 me. One tree that I got into had fruit on it, mul- 
 berry they call it, and I picked at the berries in my 
 despair. A mean old Mocking bird came and picked 
 me several times and drove me about, and the kind 
 lady tried to help me, but finally I was a full grown 
 bird and had taught myself to eat. I can tell you I 
 was glad when I was fully able to care for myself 
 as other birds do." 
 
 "What a time you had, my dear," said Mr. Ori- 
 ole. "You have taught me a lesson, which is that we 
 should not only feed our own nestlings but any other 
 that begs for food. I suppose the birds that saw you, 
 thought some one else was feeding you." 
 
 "I suppose so," answered the first speaker, "but it 
 was hard on me." 
 
 "Does not Mrs. Oriole make a beautiful nest?" 
 asked Mrs. Phoebe of Mrs. Kinglet, who sat near 
 her. 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 65 
 
 "I have heard so," replied Mrs. Kinglet, "but as I 
 do not stay in this neighborhood during the nesting 
 season, I have never seen her nest. Do tell me about 
 it." 
 
 "Mrs. Hooded-Oriole usually hangs her nest un- 
 der a palm leaf, though sometimes she selects a tall 
 eucalyptus tree for her home," said Mrs. Phoebe. 
 "She usually uses the fibers of the palm leaves for her 
 material so that it quite blends with the leaf. But 
 the wonderful thing is the way she pushes this fiber 
 through the leaf from the under side, then pulls it 
 back, until she has fastened the nest in two or three 
 places on to the leaf, for all the world as if she had 
 a needle and thread." 
 
 "My mistress who does fine embroidery says she 
 could not beat it," spoke up Mrs. Jenny Wren, who 
 was listening to the conversation. 
 
 "Mrs. Oriole does most of the building," contin- 
 ued Mrs. Phoebe. 
 
 "She makes the whole nest of this fiber, weaving 
 it into a deep cup which hangs in under the leaf out 
 of harm from sun, or rain, or wind." 
 
 "It must, indeed, be beautiful," said Mrs. Kinglet. 
 
 "I call it most wonderful," spoke up Mrs. Robin. 
 "You know my nest is made of twigs and fibers 
 stuck together with much mud. It is not stuck on to 
 some projection, or with only a slight support like 
 yours, Mrs. Phoebe, nor yet under the eaves or 
 against a bank like the Swallows, but it is in some 
 tree-crotch, or where there is a substantial support. 
 This hanging a nest beneath a leaf is, indeed, a mys- 
 tery to me." 
 
66 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 "What I could never understand," said Mrs. 
 Vireo, "is why Mrs. Oriole so often leaves so many 
 long light fibers hanging from her nest. Oftentimes 
 they are two feet long, and, blowing about with the 
 breeze, are sure to attract attention. She would be 
 wiser, in my judgment, to weave the loose ends in." 
 
 Mrs. Vireo's Home 
 
 "Mrs. Vireo is a most beautiful nest-builder," 
 whispered Mrs. Warbler to her neighbor." Her 
 nest is a sort of cup, also, and often hangs, but there 
 are no stray ends, you may be sure." 
 
 "Speaking of queer nests," spoke up Mr. 
 Thrasher, "Did any of you ever see Mrs. Cactus- 
 Wren's nest?" 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 67 
 
 "I never did," said Mrs. Vireo, "though I have 
 heard about it." 
 
 "As their name implies, the whole family builds 
 in the cactus," said Mrs. Thrasher. "The nests are 
 large, bulky pouches, longer than broad, and are 
 placed in a cactus crotch so that they lie nearly on 
 one side. There is a hole in the smaller end where 
 the birds go in and out. The nests are lined with 
 feathers and are very warm, cosy affairs." 
 
 "I should think Mrs. Wren would have to be 
 very careful not to get stuck on the cactus thorns," 
 said Mrs. Towhee. "I believe my choice of the 
 ground suits me best after all." 
 
 "Mr. Cactus- Wren is a cousin of yours, is he not, 
 Mr. Thrasher?" asked one of the group. 
 
 "Yes, all the Wrens are my cousins. Even little 
 Jennie here. You will notice that in shape, curved 
 bill and carriage, there is a strong family re- 
 semblance. Our voices, also, proclaim us relatives." 
 
 "I had a hard time last year," said Mrs. Robin- 
 red-breast. "I made the mistake of going into a 
 cherry country. The cherries are delicious eating, 
 and, of course, when we nest where they are, we eat 
 some of them. Some people resent it, notwithstand- 
 ing the fact that we eat so many insects, thus doing 
 more good than harm. One girl in our neighbor- 
 hood sat in the window with a loaded gun and shot 
 all the robins she could see." 
 
 "How unladylike!" said one of the listeners. 
 
 "My husband was killed by her," continued Mrs. 
 Robin, "and I had a hard time supplying the children 
 alone. You know they eat from 50 to 75 cut- worms 
 
68 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 a day while they are growing. Indeed I had one 
 child that ate 1 65 cut-worms in one day, which was 
 one and five-sixths times its own weight." 
 
 "Goodness, what an eater!" exclaimed one of the 
 birds. 
 
 "I am not going to that locality next year," said 
 Mrs. Robin, "it is not safe." 
 
 "We have a splendid place," said another Mrs. 
 Robin. "You had better come with us. My people 
 have quantities of cherries and they let us have all we 
 want. They love birds and will not allow one killed. 
 Why, the Quail families gather about their doors by 
 hundreds. They are as tame as chickens." 
 
 "I was sure we might be of help to each other," 
 said the Chairman, "I should think you might profit 
 by this suggestion, Mrs. Robin." 
 
 "Indeed I shall. I will go when you do, if I 
 may, so as to be sure and find the place," she said to 
 her more fortunate neighbor. 
 
 "I shall be glad of your company," replied Mrs. 
 Robin. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 
 
 "It seems proper that we should devote a part of 
 this, our first Convention, to the Society that has 
 labored so untiringly for us amoung our human 
 brothers and sisters," said Mr. Mockingbird. **I 
 presume that you all know that the name of this 
 Society is 'The Audubon Society,' and that its mem- 
 bers work for the preservation of the beneficial birds, 
 their nests and eggs. Through their efforts laws have 
 been made all over the country giving us better pro- 
 tection and forbidding people to kill us or keep us 
 in cages. Some thirty-seven States in the Union now 
 have these Societies. The children, also, are banded 
 together and it is most interesting and gratifying to us 
 that there are so many boys who do not try to kill us. 
 These children are taught about our food habits and 
 know that without us the vegetation of the earth 
 would be destroyed by insects and that human beings 
 could not live. 
 
 "I am sure you all feel as I do about these bird 
 lovers, but I should like an expression from you." 
 
 Instantly such a hubbub arose that the President 
 had to call the assembly to order and beg the mem- 
 bers not all to speak at once. Mr. Barn Owl seemed 
 much excited, and when the President had succeeded 
 in gaining order, he asked Mr. Owl what he had to 
 say about the Audubon Society. 
 
 "Mr. Chairman and Friends" : began solemn Mr. 
 Owl, "I have nothing but the greatest praise for this 
 estimable Society. I know what it means to be given 
 
70 
 
 THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 Mr. White-crowned Sparrow 
 
 protection. Had it not been for human friends, I 
 should not have raised my family as I did the past 
 year. We have a hole in an old sycamore tree not 
 far from here which we have used for a nest for many 
 years. The boys have always bothered us more or 
 less, but a kind lady who lives near by has made 
 them leave us alone, and this year she again came 
 to our rescue. Two boys thought they would like 
 one of my babies for a pet, and so they climbed up 
 the tree, and tied a string around my baby's leg and 
 fastened the other end to a branch, and then they 
 climbed down and left my darling tied to the tree. 
 For some reason they did not come back to get him, 
 and, I suppose, would have left him to die in the tree 
 had not the kind lady made them climb up and cut 
 him loose." 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 71 
 
 "What a shame that they treated you so," came 
 from a sympathetic neighbor. 
 
 "I am sure," said the Chairman, "as soon as the 
 people realize how much good Mr. Barn Owl and 
 his family do by catching gophers, mice, squirrels, 
 etc., they will give them better protection and not 
 allow their boys to .molest them. I understand that 
 they are considered most helpful to the farmers." 
 
 "Yes, this bird society has issued a Bulletin tell- 
 ing how much good the Owl family does ; and there 
 is a splendid likeness of Mr. Owl on the front page," 
 said one of the birds. 
 
 When Mr. Owl had ceased his story, a tiny Hum- 
 ming-bird made such a buzzing above the audience 
 that all heads were turned in her direction and eagerly 
 they listened for what she had to say. 
 
 "Do you know," she began in a high-pitched 
 voice, "that they have a Junior Society in our school 
 and " but she was checked in her story by ex- 
 clamations of, "Your school?" "The idea!" 
 "Where is it?" etc., and she explained by saying 
 that she called it her school because she had her nest 
 in the yard close by. 
 
 "In the school-yard, among all the children?" 
 queried Mrs. Crow. "What a queer place." 
 
 "Yes, indeed, that was what I wanted to tell you 
 about," said Mrs. Hummer. 
 
 "I built my nest on a pepper-branch only six 
 feet from the ground and between the two play- 
 grounds. It was the noisiest place in the whole 
 yard." 
 
72 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "What ever made you do it?" asked suspicious 
 Mrs. Jay. 
 
 Mrs. Black-chinncd Hummer 
 
 "Well, I knew about this Bird Society for the 
 children while I was about in the winter-time. Be- 
 cause they were so good to us. I learned to be very 
 fond of them. I used to watch the boys play ball 
 and the girls basket-ball and I became so fascinated 
 with the games that I wanted my nest where I could 
 watch. It robs brooding of its tediousness if one has 
 something of great interest near at hand, you know." 
 
 "How ingenious Mrs. Hummer is," whispered 
 one of the birds. "I never thought of that." 
 
 "The children found me when I first began to 
 build," continued the tiny Humming-bird, "and they 
 would stop their play and gather around to watch 
 me. Their teacher would often be with them and 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 73 
 
 they called watching me their 'Nature Study lesson.' 
 I tell you if you once get a party of children inter- 
 ested in you, you are pretty safe. They guarded me 
 
 like policemen all through incubation and feeding 
 
 time. 
 
 "Did you really raise your family in such an un- 
 safe place?" asked Mr. Jay. 
 
 "Yes, indeed! There they are with me today," 
 and she pointed to two other Humming-birds that 
 were in the assembly. 
 
 "Mother is quite right," said one of them. "We 
 were raised among those dear noisy children and we 
 love them so much that we are going to raise our 
 families there this next year." 
 
 "Well, well, I declare," ejaculated Mr. Jay. 
 "Truly this is an age of wonders." 
 
 "The children in our school, who are all Audu- 
 bonites," said Mrs. Linnet "have a bird-shelf out- 
 side one window and they keep food and a cup of 
 water out for us all the time. We feed there and 
 sometimes fly right into the room among them, and 
 they are so pleased that the teacher lets them stop 
 study and watch us." 
 
 "I guess you know when you have a good thing, 
 Mrs. Linnet," said Mr. Jay. 
 
 "Indeed, we do! We also build our nest in 
 plain sight and the children watch us and help us 
 raise the babies by bringing food for us." 
 
 "My dear, I think we must hunt up that yard," 
 said Mrs. Jay to her mate. 
 
 "Our family have every reason to love the Audu- 
 bon Society," said Mr. Western Meadowlark. "It 
 
74 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 was the Audubons who put us on the protected list 
 and it is by their efforts that we are kept there." 
 
 "We, too, owe much to this Society," spoke up 
 Mrs. Dove. "We are game birds, you know, on 
 
 Mrs. Hummer Feeding Babies 
 
 this Western Coast, and they used to hunt us in many 
 places while our young were still in the nest, but 
 because of the work of these bird-lovers the laws are 
 gradually getting better and our babies are given 
 more of a chance." 
 
 "That is good!" exclaimed several. 
 
 "Since we are of one mind in regard to these bird 
 people, I wish we might do something to show our 
 appreciation," said the Chairman. 
 
 "Human beings pass resolutions," said Mr. 
 Blackbird, "but I hardly see what good that would 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 75 
 
 do, for none of us can talk or write English to let 
 them know how we feel or what we have done." 
 
 "Perhaps Mrs. Pigeon could," said some one in 
 the audience. 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Mr. Mocker. 
 
 "Well, there is a language they call Pigeon Eng- 
 lish." 
 
 This caused much amusement among the birds; 
 also much mystification, as many present had never 
 heard of this queer language, but Mrs. Pigeon put 
 them all at ease by saying she knew nothing about 
 this mode of speaking, and she felt sure that no mor- 
 tal would understand her coo. 
 
 "I have an idea," said Mr. Owl, wisely. 
 
 "Do let us hear it," said Mr. Mocker. 
 
 "Well, the Secretary of the State Audubon So- 
 ciety lives only a short distance from here. I be- 
 lieve it will be fine to fly up there and serenade her." 
 
 "Glorious!" "Splendid!" "What a fine idea! 
 Mr. Owl," came from the birds. 
 
 "Of course, I would not care to go in this bright 
 sunlight," continued Mr. Owl, "but then I could 
 only hoot anyway, and the bird lady might think 
 that I was making fun of her." 
 
 And so it was agreed that the song-birds of the 
 Assembly, headed by the Chairman, should go in a 
 body to the yard and all sing their sweetest. There 
 was great confusion as they flew from their perches 
 and began to follow their leader. 
 
 "We will all go as quietly as possible and light in 
 one of the big pepper-trees and then, when I give 
 
76 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 Master and Miss Hummingbird 
 
 the signal, all sing your loudest and sweetest," said 
 Mr. Mocker, as they flew away. 
 
 When they reached the yard, they were delighted 
 to see the object of their journey lying in the ham- 
 mock under one of the big pepper-trees in the yard. 
 Silently they settled in the tree above her head and 
 then with Mr. Mocker's first note they poured forth 
 their glorious melody. Instantly the lady in the 
 hammock was awakened, and exclaimed in delight 
 at the sight of so many birds and their sweet music. 
 
 "Am I still dreaming?" she asked, as she looked 
 up and beheld so many favorites. "There is a Chat, 
 oh, isn't he beautiful and there is a darling Thrush. 
 Just hear his sweet song. What an exquisite voice 
 that Kinglet has. And there is a Warbling Vireo, 
 I do believe. And several Thrashers and Gros- 
 beaks, and Orioles, and a gorgeous Western Tana- 
 ger, and oh! so many others. Dear, dear, what can 
 
THE BIRDS CONVENTION 
 
 77 
 
 it mean? I do believe the darlings are giving me a 
 serenade." And with that idea she lay, almost 
 breathless, lest she should scare them away or miss 
 any of the glorious music. Several times she pinched 
 herself to be sure that she was awake. 
 
 After about twenty minutes of this chorus, it 
 ceased as quickly as it had begun, and led by the 
 Mocker, the birds flew from the tree back to the Con- 
 vention ground. As they disappeared, the lady 
 raised in the hammock, and with rapture cried, "It 
 was a serenade ! Oh, my beauties!" 
 
 Mrs. Grosbeak's Son 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FAREWELLS. 
 
 When the birds had again assembled in their Con- 
 vention trees, Mr. Mocker called them to order and 
 said as he knew some of them were anxious to be 
 on their way, he believed the committees had better 
 report before any one felt obliged to go. Then if 
 there was time after the reports they would hold an 
 informal reception. 
 
 He, therefore, called upon Mr. Thrasher, Chair- 
 man of the Place Committee, for his report. 
 
 "Mr. Chairman," began Mr. Thrasher, "Our 
 committee has given the matter of a suitable meet- 
 ing-place for another year, its careful consideration, 
 and we have decided, for various reasons, that right 
 here in the Arroyo Seco would be the best place. 
 Not only is there running-water, large trees of many 
 kinds, shrubs, underbrush, and vines in fact every- 
 thing that we birds enjoy, but, added to that, in this 
 section of the country birds are given protection. 
 We might find suitable localities where food-supplies 
 would be abundant, but where our gatherings would 
 be misunderstood, and small boys and even grown- 
 ups, who are ignorant of our economic value, would 
 make war against us. And so it seems best that we 
 should let well enough alone and hold our next 
 meeting here.'* 
 
 "What is the pleasure of the meeting?" asked the 
 Chairman. 
 
 "I move the committee's report be accepted," said 
 Mr. Blackbird. 
 
THE BIRDS* CONVENTION 79 
 
 "I second the motion," came from Mr. Towhee. 
 
 Upon the Chairman stating the motion and calling 
 for a discussion upon it, Mr. Barn Owl said he had 
 already expressed himself on the value of protection. 
 In his estimation, all things considered, no better 
 place could be found. 
 
 "I think this is a very suitable place," said Mr. 
 W. Tanager. "I am sure it meets the requirements 
 of us migrants. It is just a good resting-place for 
 us on our Northern trip. We always want to rest 
 a day or two somewhere, and this seems ideal to me." 
 
 "Me too," said Mr. Olive-sided Flycatcher, using 
 the slang of the day. 
 
 There being no dissenting voice, the President put 
 the question, which was unanimously carried. 
 
 Mr. Mockingbird's Son 
 
80 THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 
 
 "Now, as to spreading the news of the next Con- 
 vention, I hope the members will not depend entirely 
 upon the special committee appointed for that pur- 
 pose. It would be impossible for it to circulate the 
 news as widely as we wish, so please all of you who 
 have enjoyed this meeting, tell all the birds you meet 
 this year about it." 
 
 "Mr. President," said Mr. Barn Owl. "I think 
 I voice the sentiment of this assembly when I say 
 we owe you a vote of thanks." 
 
 "Yes, yes!" came from the audience. 
 
 "I, therefore, desire all of you who agree with me, 
 to rise and give a ringing vote of thanks," continued 
 Mr. Owl. 
 
 Instantly every bird was on his, or her, feet and 
 in a loud voice, calling "Three cheers for Mr. Mock- 
 ingbird!" which were given with heartiness and good- 
 will. 
 
 Mr. Mockingbird seemed much pleased with this 
 tribute paid him, and began to thank them for their 
 goodwill. 
 
 "The success of this Convention is due to those 
 of you who have attended and responded so readily 
 to calls for information and testimonies. I want to 
 thank you all for 
 
 Mr. Mockingbird suddenly ceased speaking and 
 those nearest him saw him glance upward and then 
 with a wild, warning cry, he leaped from his perch 
 and flew frantically into a near-by thicket. Instantly 
 all the birds were paralyzed with fear, and the great- 
 est confusion resulted. Such flying against each 
 other, such screams and squeals as filled the air, 
 
THE BIRDS' CONVENTION 81 
 
 such turning of a peaceful, tranquil meeting into 
 pandemonium was never before known in the bird- 
 world. Wise Mr. Owl, who sat in a dark corner 
 to one side was the only calm one. Instantly he knew 
 he was beholding a "bird-man." 
 
 "Well, well, I declare, he does pretty well for a 
 man. But he does make an awful noise and fuss 
 about it. He can't sail along, unheard, as I do. I 
 guess, though, it is just as well that he is so noisy 
 for had he come quietly he would have landed on 
 top of us." 
 
 In vain Mr. Owl tried to hoot and tell his com- 
 panions that this "great bird" would not hurt them, 
 that it was just a human being trying to fly, but he 
 could not make himself heard above the din. 
 
 Finally, however, curiosity overcoming fear, one 
 by one the birds came back and seeing that it was, 
 indeed, only a man, once more order was restored 
 and the convention brought to a harmonious ending. 
 
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW 
 
 AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS 
 
 WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN 
 THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY 
 WILL INCREASE TO 5O CENTS ON THE FOURTH 
 DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY 
 OVERDUE. 
 
 APR 6 2002 
 
 LD 21-50m-8, 
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY