FEATHERED GEMS 



blossom-laden fruit trees. Investigations to learn the 

 reason for this are on foot, but as yet it is largely a 

 mystery. 



The autumnal migration is by no means a repetition 

 of the delightful experiences of the spring. Silently and 

 almost stealthily the warblers slip past us and are gone 

 ere we realize that they have been with us at all, unless 

 we look carefully for them. No longer do their exuber- 

 ant spirits reveal themselves in snatches of character- 

 istic song. The pretty nuptial garb is exchanged for 

 the traveler's costume, as though they were expecting 

 to rough it on the long journey amid increasing cold. 

 Nor do they come so much at this season into the gar- 

 dens and orchards, but keep more to woods and thickets. 

 They are shier, too, and in every way harder to identify. 

 Yet we love them for what they were, and what they 

 will be next spring again. Small bands of them begin 

 to appear in August, and during September the bulk 

 of them pass. By early October most of them have 

 gone. 



We should expect from the name "warbler" that 

 these birds were great singers, whereas they are not. 

 Each species in spring has some characteristic, short, 

 simple phrase, or phrases, of song, more or less varied, 

 consisting of several rather weak notes, seldom as many 

 as a dozen. Some of these songs resemble those of 

 other species, while others are quite distinctive. But 

 it is possible for any person of quick ear who will care- 

 fully observe these songs to become able to recognize 



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