AROUND THE OLD BARN This day the bird lovers from Orchard Farm were having a picnic in the hickory and oak woods back of the fields.

It was a charming place for such a day's outing, for on the edge of the woods stood an old two-storied hay barn, which was empty in early June and a capital place in which to play "I spy" and "feet above water." On the other side of the wood was an old swampy meadow full of saplings and tangled bushes, such as birds love for nesting places.
The Doctor had set Rap, Nat, and Dodo roaming about to look for birds, and promised to tell them something of their habits when each child had written down the description of two birds.
The children divided their hunting ground, so that they might not interfere with each other.

Dodo chose the woods, because she wanted to stay near Olive, who was making a sketch of some ferns; Rap took the old barn and a bit of bushy pasture near it, and Nat went down to the swampy meadow with its border of cedar trees.

While they tramped about the Doctor sat with his back against the side of the barn, looking over the beautiful scene and thinking.
The children did not return until after Mammy Bun had spread out a delicious luncheon in the barn, and then they were divided between hunger and the wish to tell about their birds.
"I have two nice birds all written down," said Dodo, between mouthfuls.
"One was rather little and sort of green on top and white underneath, and he kept going up and down all the branches of an oak tree as if he couldn't keep still a moment, and he talked all the while as if he was asking me why I watched him and then scolding me for doing it." "That is the Red-eyed Vireo," said the Doctor.
"Maybe he did have red eyes," said Dodo, "but he moved so quick I couldn't see them.

But my other bird was splendid! Very bright red all over, except his wings and tail--they were black, and I'm sure he has a nest high up on an oak branch." "That is the Scarlet Tanager.