Qass ~VZ\0 Book >&,^;^ - 1. yVSa- Bird Children The Little Playmates of the Flower Children ^0^ n^he LiUle Playmaies of ifie Flower Gkddren ^^V' ^ i$/ \Mj/r .^:jiL^' By Elizabeth Gordon Drawings by M.T.Ross Published by RF.Volland & Company Chicago ^^" p. F. Volland & Company |^ r\:?., (01 BIRD CHILDREN m lAID GUINEA HEN: "I like to eat Three-cornered grains of nice buckwheat; I only want good, simple food To feed my fluffy little brood." 13 /wj BIRD CHILDREN ,Q D EAR little, downy GOSLING said: "I can't get learning through my head; I really don't see what's the use — When I grow up I'll be a goose." 14 i '^^< BIRD CHILDREN m SAID FATHER GOOSE: " I think I '11 take A stroll this morning to the lake." MOTHER GOOSE said: "Then I 11 go, too, And maybe take a swim with you." 15 © BIRD CHILDREN f^i ^c^-i I AID YELLOW DUCKLING to his brother: " Come on, let's hide away from mother," But he replied: *' Oh, dear me. No! We 'd better not, she 'd worry so." 16 f^ BIRD CHILDREN S H ONK-HONK, Honk-honk," old SNOW GOOSE said, "I think tonight we '11 go to bed A hundred miles due south from here,- The snow is on the way, I fear/' 17 / i5,^,i^ /aj BIRD CHILDREN ; '^■i I N SHALLOW water MALLARD DUCK At fishing sometimes tries his luck; At other times he thinks it 's nice To nibble at the sweet wild rice. 18 (^ BIRD CHILDREN j:r^ ^i^ife; ,«*-^i .*»«i«w;^ ■'^. \& M ADAM SWAN 'S a graceful lady, Likes to float where banks are shady; When Father Swan goes out to swim He takes the cygnets out with him. 19 (03 BIRD CHILDREN G OLDEN PHEASANT took a notion To take a trip across the ocean, Got a nice room at the zoo And said he 'd stay a year or two. 20 ® BIRD CHILDREN ft T AKING his family for a walk We see old MR. TURKEY COCK; He dresses up in colors gay, — His wife wears quiet tones of gray. 21 /© BIRD CHILDREN ^ r-*\^ o LD DOCTOR STORK, the kind old bird, Brings the new babies, I have heard; If you should ask him, he may bring You one to keep, beneath his wing. 22 [^ BIRD CHILDREN S IR ROOK is English, don't you know? Says: "Do not confound me with the Crow.'' His family tree is large and old, Which makes his manner proud and cold. 23 ® BIRD CHILDREN r^.' j'-^-l lARADISE BIRD, in her new clothes, Said: " They 're expensive, goodness knows ! I 'spose, because they were so dear, I '11 have to wear them all this year." {Red Paradise Bird) 24 .@ BIRD CHILDREN ^ ^j'^-.S EACOCK 'S a bird of much renown And wears a lovely cap and gown ; They say he 's very, very vain And likes to show his sweeping train. 25 /(B BIRD CHILDREN r^^^ AID NIGHTINGALE: " It's not my way To practice singing in the day, But wait till all the rest are through And I will gladly sing for you." 26 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN HJ r-^ fr %(W' V i f\" \ I IX\ maM c ANARY-BIRD said to his mother: " Is that bird in the tree my brother? " Mama Canary said: "Oh, no! He 's just a cousin — wild, you know." 27 @ BIRD CHILDREN m o RIOLE, flashing wings of flame. In the spring like sunshine came, Hung his nest away up high So his babes could see the sky. {OnharJ Oriole) 28 (^ BIRD CHILDREN . B ALTIMORE ORIOLE, pretty thin g. Builds his nest of bits of string; He's sociable and likes to stay Where people live and children piny. 29 ® BIRD CHILDREN ^ r^.^'S M EADOW LARK has a flute-like voice, Sings a song that's very choice; Builds his nest low, near the ground, With woven grasses arched around. 30 /uj- BIRD CHILDREN , VJ ^u**^! B LACK, solemn-looking Mr. CROW Steals the good farmer's corn, you know; If you ask why he breaks the laws, He answers, wisely: "Caws, caws, caws." 31 /, 03 BIRD CHILDREN m RIENDLY little CHICKADEE Is just as cunning as can be; Upon your window - sill he '11 come And thank you kindly for a crumb. 32 [^ BIRD CHILDREN /^ C ARDINAL BIRD wears vivid red, He's very amiable, 'tis said; He likes fresh fruits and seeds to eat And has a song that's very sweet. 33 f^ BIRD CHILDREN (f$! f c- "^'.S M AGPIE 'S a gossip — that 's the truth - A naughty, disobedient youth ; We must not judge him, but suppose He does the very best he knows. 34 /5! BIRD CHILDREN f^ G REAT BLUE HERON likes to fly, And so he builds his house up high, Way in the tops of tallest trees Where he lives, happy as you please. 35 (^ BIRD CHILDREN i "*<->*- B OB-O-LINK, among the clover, Tells his name over and over; He does n't stay North very long And when he goes we miss his song. 36 @ BIRD CHILDREN |^ i '"^< I NDIGO BUNTING comes in May, Saying cheerfully: " I 'm here to stay. He's a nice, friendly little thing, Willing at any time to sing. 37 (^ BIRD CHILDREN ^ E AGLE has piercing yellow eyes, He 's very strong and very wise ; Fie 's king and master over all The other birds,' both great and small. {Golden Ea^^le) 38 *^, [^ BIRD CHILDREN |^ T URKEY BUZZARD, on the wing, Is a most graceful-looking thing; Like scavengers, who come each day, He does much good in his own way. 39 [^ BIRD CHILDREN f, V ERMILION FLYCATCHER 'S a beauty, You'll always find him right on duty; Searches for food early and late, Bringing it to his pink-clothed mate. 40 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN m ■^.;:^ Y ELLOW WARBLER comes to stay Along about the first of May; He likes to live by pond or rill And builds his nest with care and skill. 41 03 BIRD CHILDREN m nmmfk c URLEW runs along the shore, To him, perhaps, it's like a floor; Whistle, and he will answer you Something like this: " Kerloo, Kerloo." {Long-BiileU Curle^v) 42 (^ BIRD CHILDREN ^S. IR PARTRIDGE is a drummer bold, You '11 hear him drum when days are cold. He says the nicest things tc eat Are red thorn apples, ripe and sweet. (Rujed Grouse) 43 Z® BIRD CHILDREN f^. T HE SNOWY HERON'S used to be A very fine, large family; I tell you this with great regret: Men hunt the birds their plumes to get. 44 @ BIRD CHILDREN g| I AID KING-FISHER: "The choicest dish I know of is a fresh caught fish; I love to fish, and, if you'll wait, I'll get you some — I need no bait." 45 0! BIRD CHILDREN ^ B ROWN THRASHER is a cheerful bird, His sweet, clear carol may be heard All through the pleasant summer day; We 're sorry when he goes away. 46 @ BIRD CHILDREN J^r) '■A.j AID GOLDFINCH: "I believe in weeds; * I live all winter on the seeds; In my snug coat of black and gold I really do not feel the cold." 47 @ BIRD CHILDREN c:^ -A_/^ /^HEER UP, cheer up, it's going to rain," ^ Sang plump SIR ROBIN, ''but 'tis plain We need some moisture for the ground, So dinners may be better found." 48 /5^ BIRD CHILDREN ,^ ^LITTING 'round the swimming pool. Where the air is nice and cool. Red-winged BLACK-BIRD sings in glee: "Gloogle-ee, Gloogle-ee-e." 49 fa^ BIRD CHILDREN (^ i -^^ Cc^'^S -•/I fi'/ Q UAIL sings a song of sheer delight: "Bob White, Bob White, Bob-Bob-Bob White." I wonder who Bob White may be To whom he calls so merrily. 50 /5J BIRD CHILDEEN ;,w. K ING-BIRD, like some other boys, Likes to make a lot of noise; He 's a bit boisterous in play And sometimes quarrelsome, they say. 51 (S BIRD CHILDREN ^ c ATBIRD is good at imitations, He mimics all his small relations; And, safely perched upon a bough, He imitates the cat's " Me - ow." 52 ® BIRD CHILDREN f^s i -'•■V. s AID PURPLE MARTIN to his lady: " Here 's a house all cool and shady; I surely am a lucky swallow — This beats my building plans all hollow." 53 f^ BIRD CHILDREN VV5 "/^HE-WEE, che-wee, che-wee-che-wee," ^ Said REDSTART, " Will you look at me? I do not sing so well by note But see my black and orange coat!" [American Redstart) 54 (^ BIRD CHILDREN §| w ITH a flash of bright-hued wing, BLUEBIRD comes to say it's spring; Sets about to build his nest Upon the tree which suits him best. 55 @ BIRD CHILDREN L ITTLE SIR SCREECH OWL and his wife Live such a cheerful, useful life; They nest among the apple trees, Saying: " May we eat the bugs here, please ? " 56 (^ BIRD CHILDREN f^)) *TT 7HO, WHO, who, who ?" asks SIR BARN OWL, ^ When he comes out at dusk to prowl; He has great shiny yellow eyes, And looks so very, very wise. 57 /g3" BIRD CHILDREN ^t O STRICPrS cousin, CASSOWARY, Wears a coat peculiar, very; It's half like feathers, half like hair,- There 's not one like it anywhere. 58 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN S O STRICH grows to be immense But has so very little sense, For when an enemy 's at hand He covers up his head with sand. 59 'S^ BIRD CHILDREN | f' -i '^•i AID PENGUIN, pensively, one day: " Come, fishie dear, come out and play,' But fishie answered, in a fright: " I 've heard about your appetite." 60 (QJ BIRD CHILDREN fM ALBATROSS has wings so strong That he could fly the whole day long; But if he 's tired, he can float Upon the waves, just like a boat. 61 (Cp; BIRD CHILDREN #$! pi 7" -iV -^ J Vw T HE dainty MISSES PARRAKEET Dress all in green and look so sweet; From South America they came And " Love Bird " is their other name. (Red-Faced LoDtbirds) 62 @ BIRD CHILDREN ^ H UMMING BIRD, the dainty thing. Has no voice and cannot sing, He lives daintily, and sips Honey from the flowers' lips. {Ruby Throated Humming Bird) 63 @ BIRD CHILDREN 0^^ H ERE'S a good joke about SPOONBILL; Never had hair and never will; His head is absolutely bare, — He 's happy though — he doesn 't care. (^Roseate Spoonbill) 64 (S BIRD CHILDREN t M ADAME IBIS, stately bird, Stands and thinks without a word; She can't forget that long ago She was a sort of cjueen, you know. [Scarlet Ibis) 65 /w^ BIRD CHILDREN f ANDPIPER lives beside the water With her little son and daughter; Shows the cunning little brood Exactly where to look for food. (Least Sandpiper) 66 (^ BIRD CHILDREN ,^ AID STORMY PETREL: "This is fine! I do enjoy the gale called 'line'; No matter how the storm may thicken It just suits ' Mother Carey's Chicken.' " 67 /yl BIRD CHILDREN ^ ©)..>' I AID fussy MADAM COCKATOO " I always find enough to do; I 'm such a busy, useful dame, I know these folks are glad I came." 68 ^^*.« CS^ BIRD CHILDREN ^^^ i "-V lARROT'S a very wise old bird, She can speak English well, I've heard; Laughs and says in manner jolly: '' Have you a cracker for Miss Polly?'' {Gray Parrot) 69 [kQ BIRD CHILDREN cp \ DREADFUL thief is old BLUE JAY, He robs the other birds, they say; He wears a handsome suit of blue. And calls a gay "Good-day" to youo 70 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN M X) PARROW'S an Englishman, I'm told, His manners are both rude and bold; Other birds wish he 'd go away, But he says: "No, I've come to stay." 71 :0 BIRD CHILDREN ly^ A T EVENING, when the world is still, Mournfully sings the WHIP-POOR-WILL; In his brown suit, all trimmed with white, He slips so softly through the night. 72 /5! BIRD CHILDREN ,§! E AVE SWALLOW, in his nest of clay, Always has lots of things to say; He and his brothers often race, Catching the insects 'round the place. 73 /,% (CTj BIRD CHILDREN fM j;'-^iS EA DOVE, sometimes called " Little Auk,' Flies very little, likes to walk; He wears a coat of feathers warm And doesn't seem to mind the storm. 74 /5J BIRD CHILDREN ^ L OON is a fearless diver bold, He does n't mind the heat or cold ; He dives and swims — oh, very far, And then bobs up and laughs " Ha-Ha!" 75 / «... 5. ^ "% BIRD CHILDREN M OCKING BIRD is very clever, Uses her own notes hardly ever, But saucily sings bits of song Which to the other birds belong. 76 /h^ bird children f: o DEAR, dear me!" WOOD-PECKER said, "The birds all shout at me, 'Redhead'; It makes me feel so very sad. No wonder that my temper's bad!" 77 (^ BIRD CHILDREN i -i-v. '' ,^ 'H,,S T O SAVE his little home from harm, CRESTED FLYCATCHER has a charm He finds and places in his nest A piece of Mr. Snake's old vest. 78 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN ^ I VORY- BILLED WOODPECKER said " Dear me! They're cutting down my family tree; Where can I live, I 'd like to know, If men will spoil the forest so?" 79 ® BIRD CHILDREN i -*-'v. X TIGHT HAWK is lazy, sleeps all day, And then comes out at night to play; He always wears his evening clothes And when it's daylight, home he goes. 80 BIRD CHILDI^EN B ARN SWALLOW is a graceful thing, Catches his food upon the wing; Perhaps that's why he is so fond Of skimming lightly o 'er the pond. 81 i '^^' 03 BIRD CHILDREN VM ^V^^' L AUGHING GULL seems free from care, He's always laughing everywhere; He never tells what it's about And no one yet has found it out. 82 /43 BIRD CHILDREN }^ ^ ^^^N^'Vf iTARLING 'S a pretty little dear, He lives in Europe, too, we hear; The folks in Ireland, so we're told. Think that he 's worth his weight in gold. 83 /3^ BIRD CHILDREN I AID busy little JENNY WREN: " I like to live where there are men; I come each year to the same place So I can see some friendly face." 84 ® BIRD CHILDREN f^ M OURNING DOVE is very sweet, She likes nice grains and seeds to eat; In her soft voice she calls: "Coo, coo," Which means in Dove talk, " T love you/' 85 a? BIRD CHILDREN m R ED -SHAFTED FLICKER hops around, Eating the ants upon the ground; He builds in any hollow tree Where he 's as snug as snug can be. 86 /u^ BIRD CHILDREN G KEEN JAY lives in Rio Grande, A member of a robber band; He's very beautiful, but oh! We wish he would n't plunder sol 87 /a? BIRD CHILDREN t-p i>^ c OW-BIRD is lazy, sad to say, She lives in quite a selfish way; She 's neither pretty nor polite And never tries to do what 's right. 88 @ BIRD CHILDREN S G UCKOO 'S a quiet, useful bird, He eats the naughty worms, I 've heard, And from the woods he calls to you His simple song: — "Cuckoo, cuckoo." 89 i "^X /y3 BIRD CHILDREN M T HE SNOW BIRD said: "Let's have some fun. The storm is over — there 's the sun." He rolled and tumbled in the snow^, Like other little ones you know. {^Snonxj- Flake) 90 /"iff CTJ BIRD CHILDREN / ••X. •V,-' U NDER a bridge, where all day long The brooklet sings its happy song, PHOEBE BIRD builds her nest of clay To which she comes each year to stay. 91 @ BIRD CHILDREN S CARLET FLAMINGO said: "Just think! I really thought this gown was pink, But when you see it in this light, It's red — I fear it's rather bright." 92 >@ BIRD CHILDREN i ■"-X-' H ERE is old MR. PELICAN, He is a famous fisherman; Said he: " I do not mind wet feet If I catch fish enough to eat." 93 03 BIRD CHILDREN _„ lUFFIN walks better than he flies, He has red feet and queer white eyes; He's such a funny little fellow With his great beak of red and yellow. {Sea Parrot) 94 f> (Cq bird children m ^;i s TYRE BIRD 'S an Australian child, "■-^ She lives in lonely places wild, And builds upon the rocky ground The queerest nest which can be found. 95 INDEX // Albatross 61 Magpie Anaerican Redstart 54 Mallard Duck Baltimore Oriole 29 Meadow Lark Barn Owl .... 57 Mocking Bird . Barn Swallow 81 Mourning Dove Black-Bird 49 Night Hawk Blue Heron 35 Nightingale Blue Jay .... 70 Orchard Oriole . Bluebird .... 55 Ostrich Bob-o-Link 36 Parrakeet {Red Faced Lo-ve I ?/>