102 



THE OSPREY. 



certainly must be quite rare, and, as Mr. Brewster 

 says, kept for select occasions. After nesting, the 

 males gradually stop singing, although a few per- 

 sistent ones may be occasionally heard quite late in 

 the season. 



The fast decaying driftwood, tossed among the 

 trees by the surging waters of a spring freshet, and 

 left floating or partly submerged in the stagnant 

 pools or back-water contains myriads of insects 

 upon which the Prothonotary Warbler feeds. Now 



he may be seen flitting from log to log, pulling some 

 unfortunate spider from a crevice, and scanning 

 every dark looking cranny in search of the coveted 

 bug : then away he darts to a water-soaked stump, 

 where, in spiral-like manner, he winds his way to 

 the top, frequently turning his golden breast to the 

 sun, and glancing downwards as if to catch a glimpse 

 of himself in the mirror-like water beneath. 

 ITo BE Continued.] 



A 



O-JAW-AW-NE. 



(THE BLUEBIRD.) 



CHIEF PGK.AGON. 



S the snows of winter melt away before the like a maiden wise who hopes to gain some favored 

 northward march of coming spring, I never youth, appears quite unconcerned, as though she did 

 fail to rise at break of dav. that I mav not not care to grant his wishes or desires. 



fail to welcome the 

 first O-jaw-aw-ne 

 which reaches my 

 wigwam door. It 

 surely is a pleasant 

 sight to every true and 

 loving child of nature, 

 whose ' 'o-daw" (heart) 

 has ever been warm- 

 ed by the a 1 1 u r i ng 

 fires of true love, to 

 watch these social 

 birds during their 

 courtship and mar- 

 riage. 



At such times they 

 are in full dress pa- 

 rade, and look their 

 best. The plumage of 

 the male's upper part 

 is sky-blue, reflecting 

 in the sunshine rich 

 purple hues, which in 

 contrast with its breast 

 in red and chestnut- 

 brown, fading into 

 white below, never 

 fails to impress its rare 

 beauty on the eyes of 

 all beholders. 



The female, with 

 like coloring and 

 marking, though less 

 vivid, adds a delicacy 



to her appearance, which combined with her quiet 

 reserved manners, without vanity, ^might well be re- 

 garded as a symbol of pure modesty. 



The male bird introduces his anxiety to become 

 her suitor, by hovering about her on quivering wings. 



BOHEMl.-\N WAXWINCi — BV ERNEST SETON THOMPSON. 



From ' Birds of Village and Field.' Copyright. 1898, by 



Florence A. Merriam. 



Chagrined by such 

 unfeeling coolness on 

 her part, he uses the 

 most ardent and ten- 

 der expressions of his 

 loving passions by 

 pouring forth his 

 sweetest strains of true 

 love into her ears. 

 Failing in this t o 

 awaken her admira- 

 tion, he circles about 

 her rising and falling 

 with his time and 

 tune, then lights close 

 beside her, chattering 

 and warbling his ar- 

 dent love in sweet low 

 tones, in such persua- 

 sive way as seldom 

 fails to reach a maid- 

 en's heart. 



When he espies 

 some insect, delicious 

 to the taste, skillfully 

 he darts forth, grasps 

 it in his bill — return- 

 ing to her side, with 

 the most loving tender- 

 ness, puts it into her 

 mouth, fanning her 

 the while with quiver- 

 ing outstretched wings 

 above her head. 

 She receives all his devoted attention and flattery 



as unconsciously as though she did not understand 



his pleading heart. 



If some rival puts in an appearance, stung by 



"a-mo" (the wasp) of jealousy, the ardent lover 



pouring forth his flute-like melodies, expressing the quits her side without delay, hotly pursues and 

 most ardent feelings of a devoted lover,— while she attacks the reckless intruder, giving him no rest until 



