WINTER TENANTS OP GUR TREES. 57 



season of the year, always fresh, and, to all appear- 

 ances, at all times available."* 



"But, even if we should acquit the sparrows of mur- 

 derous intent in their assaults upon cocoons, we may 

 fairly conjecture that they are influenced by desire to 

 gather material for nest-building. 



"I have specimens of the nests of a Vireo taken in 

 Fairmount Park, wliich are largely constructed of 

 silk stolen from cocoons and webs of spiders. One 

 may imagine the vigorous but unavailing protests of 

 the despoiled spinster against the rape of her fair silken 

 yarns, but what could she do against the thieving 

 birds ? Her stationary domicile and cocoon Avere far 

 more exposed to the winged robbers than the oscillating 

 house of the moth, pendant from the trees. 



'• But we have quite spent our hour afield. We will 

 walk homeward through the ravine, and collect such 

 specimens as we may on the way. I dare say we shall 

 find enough material to supply a theme of conversation 

 for a pleasant evening at home." 



" You promised to initiate me into the mysteries of 

 scientific names when we started homeward," said 

 Abby ; " cannot your fulfill your promise now ?" 



"There is not much mystery in the matter," I 

 replied, "and I shall have little difficulty, I think, in 



[* Among the many letters called out by the original chapters of ' 'Tlie 

 Tenants, " as published in The Continent, was one from 3n'. F. Jr. 

 Webster, Assistant Entomologist of tlie State of Illinois, who forv.'arded 

 me the above facts concerning the hairy woodpeeUer, as observed l)y 

 him, and printed in the American Naturalist. They arc confirmatory 

 of my allusion to the sparrows, and I here take the liberty of adding 

 them to the Tenant's Experience. J 



