AMONG THE WARBLERS 23 



quiet my ears were assailed by faint notes 

 almost like insect sounds, " pip "or " tic,'* 

 sometimes whispered " smacks " or squeals, 

 and I watched eagerly for a stirring leaf or 

 a vibrating twig. Many times I was not 

 able, with my best efforts, to see the least 

 movement, for spruce-boughs respond but 

 slightly to the light touch of these tiny 

 creatures. But usually silence and absolute 

 quiet had their reward. Here I saw the 

 magnolia warbler in his gorgeous dress of 

 black and gold, calling an anxious " Davy- 

 Davy ! which is it ? " and bustling about after 

 a restless youngster the size of a walnut, 

 with the nestling's down still clinging to his 

 head; and more rarely the yellow warbler 

 looking like a brilliant new blossom among 

 the dark old spruces, or dropping like a yel- 

 low leaf to the ground. 



Into a low tree across the pathway came 

 often the black-and-white creeper, tiptoeing 

 his way up the trunk and uttering his sibi- 

 lant " ziz-zle, ziz-zle." 



On one side appeared once or twice a red- 

 start prancing over the ground in his pecul- 

 iar " showing-off " manner, and in his bril- 



