Part 1

TALES OF THE BIRDS

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO

THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO

Front.]

TALES OF THE BIRDS

BY W. WARDE FOWLER

AUTHOR OF “A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS.”

“Μετἀ δἐ χρόνον την πελειάδα ἀνθρωηίη φωνή αὐδάξασθαι λέγουσι.” HERODOTUS

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRYAN HOOK

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN’S STREET, LONDON 1909

RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED. BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.

First Edition., 1888. Second Edition, 1889. Reprinted, 1891, 1899, 1909. School Edition, 1901. Reprinted, 1903 (twice).

TO G. J. E. IN MEMORY OF PLEASANT DAYS IN THE SUNNY SUMMER OF 1887.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

A WINTER’S TALE 1

OUT OF TUNE 33

A JUBILEE SPARROW 54

THE FALCON’S NEST 82

A DEBATE IN AN ORCHARD 109

A TRAGEDY IN ROOK-LIFE 132

A QUESTION BEGINNING WITH “WHY” 156

THE LIGHTHOUSE 181

THE OWLS’ REVENGE 210

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

... AND STOOD THERE, PROUD AND FIERCE, WITH ONE FOOT STILL GRASPING ITS VICTIM (Frontispiece.)

THUS THEY PASSED THE NIGHT, TOLERABLY WARM AND COMFORTABLE, AND EVEN SLEEPING To face page 19