110 THE WILES OF A WARBLER 



of a squad of short-tailed little folk is one of 

 the delectable sights of bird-land. 



Not only does warbler study require a 

 good stock of patience, but to prosecute it 

 successfully needs a very amiable disposition 

 or a tough skin, for besides the disadvantages 

 mentioned, the woods they love are also the 

 home of mosquitoes, ants, gnats, and other 

 torments. If the birds had not fortunately 

 the habit of introducing themselves by 

 their jerky little songs, we should scarcely 

 ever know they were about. 



These small fellow creatures too have that 

 eternal vigilance which the old saying as- 

 sures us is the price of liberty. However 

 busy they appear to be with their own affairs, 

 they always have an eye to spare for the 

 student ; perhaps that is one of the advan- 

 tages of eyes looking both ways. Let us not 

 forget that all this energy, this fury of work, 

 is for our benefit, for they are the most inde- 

 fatigable of workers, destroying every second, 

 between their snatchy songs, insect eggs, and 

 insects which are doing their little best, and 

 no insignificant best either, to destroy our 

 trees. 



