MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



spond with the general elegance of their deport- 

 ment, for they seldom speak loud enough to at- 

 tract attention. 



An idea of their superlative politeness is given 

 in a frequently cited statement made by Nuttall, 

 who tells us that he once saw a little company of 

 cedar-birds passing on, from one to another, an 

 insect that one of them had captured. Each 

 seemed unselfishly anxious that one of his neigh- 

 bors should have the benefit of the tid-bit. 



Not only are they kind and helpful to mem- 

 bers of their own family, but several sweet in- 

 stances of their tender treatment of outsiders 

 have been cited. Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller re- 

 lates the story of a cedar-bird who fed and cared 

 for a family of orphaned robins until they were 

 old enough to leave the nest. 



Add to good looks and amiable qualities the 

 cedar-bird's great usefulness in the matter of de- 

 stroying hurtful insects, and you will see what 

 desirable visitors they are. Surely one would be 

 ashamed to grudge them the cherry lunch they 

 sometimes take between insect - exterminating 

 raids. 



Judging from the quantities of nut-shells 

 strewn about in all directions, it is evident that 



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