Birds also play a great part in the distribution of plants, the upbuilding and 

 fertilizing of barren islands, and a minor part in the distribution of insects. Wild 

 fowl and herons may sometimes carry small seeds for many miles embedded in 

 particles of mud which adhere to their feet. The part taken by birds in forest 

 planting and fertilizing barren lands will be taken up farther on, in connection 

 with their relations to forestry and agriculture. 



Taken all in all, the relations of birds to the natural world are beneficent. 

 Evidently birds are an essential part of nature's great plan. This being the case, 

 they must be serviceable to man also, for man, the animal, is a mere integral part 

 of nature. 



The Blue- Winged Warbler {Vermivora pinus) 



By W. Leon Dawson 



Length : 4^ inches. 



Range: Eastern United States from Southern New York, Southern New 

 England, and Southern Minnesota southward, west of Texas, and Nebraska. 



Nest : On the ground ; eggs, 4 or 5. 



Although appearing in our latitude as early as May 1, the Blue-winged 

 Yellow Warbler seems to bring summer with it. This is partly because its bright 

 plumage suggests the fullest measure of sunshine, but more because its drowsy, 

 droning song better befits the midsummer hush than it does the strife of tongues 

 which marks the May migrations. Swe-e-e-e-zze-e-e-e the bird says, and it is 

 as if the Cicada had spoken. The last syllable especially has a vibrant clicking 

 quality like the beating of insect wings. 



Like most warblers this bird makes nice discriminations in the choice of 

 its summer home. If one knows exactly what sort of cover to look for it is not 

 difficult to locate a Blue-wing, but one might ransack a township at haphazard 

 and find never a one. Low, moist clearings which have been allowed to fill up 

 again with spicebush, witch-hazel, and saplings are favorite places, especially if 

 here and there a larger tree has been spared, from which the singing warbler may 

 obtain at will a commanding view. When suited to a "t" the bird will buzz into 

 the late hours of the morning, when other songsters are silent. 



Active and sprightly in habit, in spite of its tranquilizing song, the Blue-wing 

 is seen to best advantage when nest-hunting or nest-building. Selecting a 

 promising spot, the bird will approach it by degrees, first droppng down some 

 sapling ladder, rung by rung, until the lowest branch is reached; thence flitting 

 to the top of a bush-clump, and descending in like manner to the ground. Here 

 diligent inspection is made about the roots of the bush, the leaf supply, drainage, 

 and cover being duly considered. If the outlook is promising the mate is sum- 

 moned and the situation reconsidered. 



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