182 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:5— May, 1919 



an immense quantity of worms, flies, caterpillars, moths, beetles, 

 and other insetts is devbured by the little ones. It is so interesting 

 to see one of the parents bring a bill full of worms or insects, 

 lighting upon a nearby bush, tree or fence, look all around to see if 

 he is watched and upon deciding he is not, fly into the nest, feed the 

 young, and rush off for more. If anyone is near the nest when the 

 parents are coming with food, there is great excitement. They 

 will flutter from tree to tree in a worried fashion and scold very 

 severely until all appears safe for their approach. 



I did so enjoy watching a family of bluebirds one spring, who had 

 their nest half way down a hollow fence post. It was while school 

 was in session and each noon hour we would go across the fields to 

 the nest, to see what progress in growth this young family had 

 made. T'hey grew very rapidly and we anxiously awaited the day 

 when they would fly away, so we could see their attempts to fly 

 up out of the post, as we imagined it would be a rather difficult task 

 the first time. However, we were sadly disappointed as they took 

 their departure at an hour when we were not present. 



As soon as the young of the first brood are on the wing, then 

 follows, even before these have become entirely independent a 

 second or third one. After the young are able to care for them- 

 selves they congregate with others to form flocks. These flocks are 

 often seen in the flelds feeding upon mullein-seeds, or other weed 

 seeds and also upon insects. In the latter part of October when it 

 begins to get very cold the flocks are joined by the older birds and 

 they all take their departure for a warmer climate. 



Many are seen during the winter months in the middle states but 

 the majority choose the south Atlantic and gulf states for their 

 winter quarters. 



I have read that in the south they act like an entirely different 

 bird, being very timid and mistrustful and rarely uttering a note. 



The bluebird possesses only good qualities. When the Pilgrim 

 fathers came to New England, this attractive bird was one of the 

 first that greeted them with tender and friendly warblings. It 

 reminded them so much of their English Robin Redbreast that they 

 named it the "Blue robin." The old settlers of the Mohawk 

 Valley called it the "Cottage Warbler" because it chose to build 

 its nest near their log cabins. The bluebird is in no manner what- 

 ever injurious ; on the contrary, it is said, that the benefit resulting 

 from its destruction of incalculable numbers of injurious insects, 

 is beyond estimation. 



