THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



Fust comes the blackbird clatterin' on tall trees, 



And settlin' things in windy congresses, 



Lowell. 



THERE is a little beetle that lives on water-lily 

 leaves ; and if any insect were safe from attack, 

 you would think it might be this one. Several times, 

 however, I have seen 

 Red-winged Black- 

 birds light on the 

 leaves, as they floated 

 on the water, and pick 

 off the beetles. This 

 shows us how the 

 birds pry into every- 

 thing, and attack our 

 insect enemies in every 

 part of nature. 



The Red-wing is 

 never far from the water, and often builds his nest in 

 the bushes or sedges that grow over slow streams 

 or ponds. In March and April he sits for hours on 

 the top of some bush, spreading his wings to show 

 his scarlet epaulets, and singing his loud, cheerful 



Fig. 14. — Red-winged Blackbird. 



