52 LAXD-BIKDS AND GAIVIE-BIRDS 



of which are injurious. As they often rear two or even three 

 broods of j'oung during their annual sojourn in Massachusetts, 

 they necessarily destroy an incalculable number of pests (at 

 the rate of between fifty and a hundred thousand to a pair in 

 four months) . So soon as the young of the first brood are old 

 enough to leave the nest, the female soon begins again to lay, 

 while the male takes charge of the young, teaching them how 

 to catch their prey. He may often be seen to perch in some 

 open spot, and, flying into the air (much in the manner of fly- 

 catchers), to seize some passing insect, or, pausing with 

 rapidly quivering wings, to snap up some grasshopper or 

 beetle from the grass, immediately returning to his perch. 

 Though the Blue Birds have been known to take long flights, 

 when traveling, yet they rarely fly far at other times, and, 

 though when journejing they move through the air at a con- 

 siderable height, at other times thej'^ usually remain rather near 

 the ground, but they never, as a rule,- stand on it, except occa- 

 sionally when collecting bits of straw or the like, with which 

 to build their nests. In autumn they gather in small flocks, 

 and in October generally depart from this State, though a fe\v 

 linger until November. 



(cZ). The only song of ihe Blue Birds is a repetition of a 

 '' sadly-pleasing " but cheerful warble of two or three notes, 

 tinged (so to speak) b}^ a mournful tone. This they often 

 give utterance to when on wing, as well as when perched. In 

 autumn, and when with their young, their usual note is a single 

 sad whistle, but they occasionally use a peculiar chatter as a 

 call-note to their young, whose notes differ from those of their 

 parents. 



I shall here close m^- account of these birds, deservedly 

 popular as forerunners of spring, companions of man, and 

 cheerful, beneficial laborers, by quoting a few lines from one 

 of Alexander Wilson's poems. 



In Autumn 

 '•The Blue-bird, fovpaken. yet true to his home, 



'' Still lingers, and looks for a milder to-morrow, 

 "Till forc'd bj' the horrors of winter to roam, 



"He Bings his adieu in a lone note of sorrow. 



