268 Bird -Lore 



wings. Then I looked in all of my bird-books to see if they said anything about 

 the flycatching of Cedar Waxwings, and was surprised to find that not one of 

 them even mentioned it. Since then, whenever I have seen Cedar Waxwings 

 I have seen them flycatching. 



A Cedar Waxwing is not the only bird not a Flycatcher that I have seen catch 

 insects in the air. I undertake to say that every bird there is has done the 

 flycatching stunt. You may say, "Certainly not the Hummingbird;" but last 

 summer with my very eyes I actually saw the insect that it caught. It is well 

 known that some of the Vireos and Warblers do the stunt as well as the Red- 

 headed Woodpecker, and I have seen a White-crowned Sparrow do the same 

 thing. — Tom McCamant (age 13), Portland, Oregon. 



[Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey writes of the Cedar Waxwing, which you remember 

 is, like the Goldfinch, a late-nesting species: "In July, when the wandering flocks are 

 no longer seen, a walk through the neighboring orchards may show where both tardy 

 builders have at last gone to nesting, and few bird-homes afford pictures of such human 

 tenderness and devotion. If there is an evergreen in the vicinity, the Cedar-bird mounts 

 guard upon its tip, but occasionally relieves the monotony of his watch by flying up in 

 the air for light luncheons of passing insects." It may be added that, in the vicinity of 

 fresh-water ponds, this Waxwing may not infrequently be seen during August flying 

 out over the water from its perch in an overhanging tree to catch insects. — A. H. W.] 



THE GOLDFINCH 



Do not fly away from me. Then you may go and hunt your flower. 



Little Goldfinch in the tree! The dandelion, near your bower. 



Come down, you fine yellow bird ! Or you may upon the thistle feed, — 



And let your thrilling voice be heard. We're glad to have you eat its seed. 



— Grant Stark (age 13), Sixth Grade, 

 Naperville, Illinois. 



[Those who have had the pleasure of discovering the nest of the Goldfinch, if wise 

 enough to watch it at a discreet distance, know how charming the devotion of the male 

 to the female is, as he feeds her while she incubates the eggs. The nest of the Goldfinch 

 is a beautiful structure, deep and snugly lined with its favorite thistledown. — A. H. W.] 



THE CARDINAL 



I suppose you know the Cardinal. He is red all over, and his wife looks 

 as though she was gray, dipped in red ink, because she is such a light color of 

 red. A pair of Cardinals came to our house. I suppose you know that they 

 are plucky birds. 



Mr. Cardinal came on the drinking-pan that we had put out, but would 

 not let his wife drink till he was through. If she tried when he was there, he 

 would knock her off. 



When he was through, a Robin wanted to drink, but Mrs. Cardinal would 

 not let the Robin drink till she was through. — Katie Marino (age 10), 

 Fourth Grade, Mount Vernon, Iowa. 



