SONG-BIRDS. Martin 



before me is a male in full plumage, who came to an un- 

 timely end by flying against a treacherous wire trellis. 

 Nowhere except in the black frontlet, the tail, and wing 

 tips does he show a distinct colour demarcation; all the 

 rest of the feathers are tinted like a skilful blending of 

 water-colours. The Cedar Waxwings only remain in pairs 

 during the breeding-season (from late May until August), 

 and at other times travel in flocks. It is only when in 

 these flocks that they are conspicuous about the garden and 

 old pastures ; for when they are nesting they are very shy 

 and stealthy in their movements. 



Last May a flock of fifty or more lodged for a whole morn- 

 ing in a half-dead ash tree, near the house, so that seated at 

 ease, I could focus my glass carefully, and watch them at 

 leisure. They were as solemn as so many demure Quakers 

 sitting stiffly in rows ; once in a while they shifted about, 

 and then seemed to do a great deal of apologizing for fan- 

 cied jostlings. Their movements interested me greatly, 

 until finally, to my surprise, I saw an illustration of the old 

 story of their extreme politeness in passing food to one 

 another, which I had always regarded as a pretty bit of 

 fiction. A stout green worm (for they eat animal as well as 

 vegetable food) was passed up and down a row of eight 

 birds ; once, twice it went the rounds, until half way on its 

 third trip it became a wreck and dropped to the ground, so 

 that no one enjoyed it, a commentary, in general, upon 

 useless ceremony. I could not help wondering, however, 

 whether it was all disinterested politeness, or whether the 

 worm was of a variety repugnant to Cedar-birds ; as Hamlet 

 put it, " Caviare to the general." 



FAMILY HIRUNDINID^E : SWALLOWS. 

 Purple Martin : Prague stibis. 



PLATE 23. 



Length : 7.50 inches. 



Male and Female: Deep, glossy, bluish purple, turning to black on 

 wings and tail, which is forked. Bill dark ; feet black. Female 

 more brownish and mottled, below grayish white. 

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