CHAPTER XII 

 AVOODLAXD WARBLERS 



"Now you may be introduced to a family of Ameri- 

 can birds, many of them brightly colored and none of 

 them large, who have no cousins or relations in any 

 other country. You must not expect them to come 

 and peep in the window like tlie Catbird, or feed on 

 the lawn like the Thrush and Robin ; for they are birds 

 of woodland and brushland. Yet the}^ often come for 

 a time in their journeys to gardens and orchards, for 

 they are among the greatest travellers." 



''Why do they travel so much, if they are only 

 American birds ? " asked Nat. " I shouldn't think 

 they would have to go far if tliey always live in 

 America." 



" America is a very large country, my boy, and you 

 must not forget it includes South as well as North 

 America — the Western Hemisphere of the whole globe. 

 Warblers are insect-eating Citizens and cannot live long 

 on anything else. Now, as many of them nest far 

 North, wdien the early frosts lock the country they 

 must often make long journeys at short notice, until 

 they find their insect food again." 



" AVhy don't we see swarms and swarms of them 

 flying by ? " asked Dodo. 



" You mean flocks," said Olive : " we only say 

 'swarms' when we mean bees or other insects." 



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