THE CEDAR WAXWING. 127 



the birds chatter about those berries, and bend 

 the canes to the ground, where they hold them 

 until the stem is robbed of all the ripe fruit. 



Always a fearless bird, the waxwings learn to 

 be very tame with us, where they are sure of kind 

 treatment and plenty to eat. We suppose our 

 readers will begin to think we do little else but 

 feed the birds, and you may more than suspect 

 that we are eaten out of house and home by the 

 feathered visitors. The truth is, it takes only an 

 idle moment to place food in the way of the birds; 

 and it does n't take so very much food as you 

 may imagine to satisfy all our friends. In return, 

 we have song, and a good many things to think 

 about, better than idle thought. 



The waxwings' language is an endless chatter 

 about the things they see on their journeys. 

 True, the farmers are not particularly fond of 

 them or their chatter. Would they take the time 

 to find out, they would know that the waxwings 

 eat only many harmful worms, moths, and flies 

 during two or three months in the year. As they 

 are always hungry, it takes a good many cater- 

 pillars to each meal. Though, come to think of 

 it, a waxwing does n't have regular meals. Most 

 of its time seems to be meal-time. 



Probably our robins and waxwings nest in the 



