A LAUGHING FAMILY When the children had their uncle with them, and could listen to his stories, it seemed very easy to name the birds.

But when they were alone it was quite a different matter.

The birds had a way of moving on, at exactly the wrong moment.

Of course they made some very funny mistakes, and at times grew quite discouraged.
"I thought we could learn a hundred birds in no time," said Nat to Olive, one morning; "but I'm only pop sure of ten when they fly in a hurry, and about ten more when they sit still and let me take a good look at them." "I think that is doing very well, indeed, for watching live birds is not a bit like learning rules and figures by heart.

Though your tables give you some facts about birds' colors and habits, every bird has some little ways and tricks of his very own that are always a surprise; and then, you see, a bird in the hand looks very different from a bird in the bush!" "I suppose that is why uncle wants us to go out to see for ourselves, instead of telling us stories every day.