THE PERCHING BIRDS. 31 



time very common, and to all people delightful, Blue- 

 bird. This bird early attracted attention, and because 

 of its pleasing warble, bright colors, and sociable 

 disposition became a favorite at once. Its nesting 

 habits being recognized, boxes for its accommoda- 

 tion were set about dwellings, and there was proba- 

 bly not a farm-house in the country but had its blue- 

 birds. What a change has taken place ! Now one 

 seldom sees these birds except as wild wanderers in 

 the fields or forest. They come and go, even in our 

 villages, it is true, but not as a regular feature of 

 early spring. In the Middle States the bluebird is 

 not migratory. They collect in considerable num- 

 bers in September, and, associated with kingbirds 

 and orioles, seek the warm, low-lying ground, where 

 the last of the sum- 

 mer's insect-life still 

 lingers. At such a 

 time they have much 

 of the movements of 

 typical flycatchers. 

 Not long ago I 

 watched one bird for 

 nearly an hour. It 

 was perched upon a 

 tall, outreaching stake 

 in the angle of an old Bluebird, 



worm - fence. From 



this it sallied out, pewee-like, into the upper air and 

 seized some insect, and then returned to its post. Oc- 

 casionally it would fly a hundred yards or more and 

 try some other outlook ; but none other suited it so 



