THE BIRDS AND THE HOURS
Reading edition
4 A.M.
Who is the bird of the early dawn?
The brown-capped Chippy, who from the lawn
Raises his wings and with rapture thrills,
While his simple ditty he softly trills.
5 A.M.
Who is the bird of the risen sun?
The Robin’s chorus is well-nigh done
When Bobolink swings from the clover high,
And scatters his love-notes across the sky.
9 A.M.
Who is the bird of the calm forenoon?
The Catbird gay with his jeering tune,
Who scolds and mimics and waves his wings
And jerks his tail as he wildly sings.
Noon
Who is the bird of the middle day?
The green-winged, red-eyed Vireo gay,
Who talks and preaches, yet keeps an eye
On every stranger who passes by.
5 P.M.
Who is the bird of the afternoon?
The Wood Thrush shy, with his silvery tune
Of flute and zither and flageolet;
His rippling song you will never forget.
7 P.M.
Who is the bird of the coming night?
The tawny Veery, who out of sight
In cool dim green o’er the waterway
The lullaby echoes of sleeping day.
9 P.M.
Who is the bird that when all is still
Like a banshee calls? The Whip-poor-will;
Who greets the Nighthawk in upper air
Where they take their supper of insect fare.
Midnight
Who are the birds that at midnight’s stroke
Play hide-and-seek in the half-dead oak?
And laugh and scream ’till the watch-dog howls?
The wise-looking, mouse-hunting young Screech Owls.
All in chorus
Good Night! Good Day!
Be kind to the birds and help repay
The songs they sing you the livelong day,
The bugs they gobble and put to flight—
Without birds, orchards would perish quite!
Good Day! Good Night!
—M. O. W.
Tommy and Dave, who represented the Screech Owls, followed up the last “good night” by a very realistic imitation of the mewing call-note and the cry of the little Screech Owl, that not only brought down the house, but caused the guests to go home in a state of laughing good humour.