MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



pioneer woman bird-student says: "One must 

 be content to let some things remain unknown, 

 and enjoy what he can understand if he would 

 be happy with nature. And if at some future 

 time as often happens the mystery is solved, 

 the joy is great enough to pay for waiting." * 



The redstarts have been so numerous that op- 

 portunities for observing them have been ex- 

 cellent. Mr. Chapman says that " in Cuba 

 most of our wood warblers are known as * Mari- 

 posas ' butterflies ; but the redstart's bright plu- 

 mage has won for him the name of * Candelita,' 

 the little torch that flashes in the gloomy depths 

 of tropical forests." 



A pair of Maryland yellow- throats seem to be 

 nesting here their " witchery, witchery " is fre- 

 quently heard in this sequestered nook and yes- 

 terday I listened to a delightful vaudeville per- 

 formance from a yellow-breasted chat, who was 

 passing this way. 



But the most gorgeous of all the visions came 

 with a company of scarlet tanagers. I fairly held 

 my breath as I saw the palpitating red of the 

 beautiful creatures against the pale young green 



* Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller, in Upon the Tree-Tops. 



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