268 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 



timid, and easily driven away. Worse than this, they are 

 easily killed by cold weather. The cold wave which visited 

 the South in 1895 killed so many thousands of Bluebirds, 

 especially in North Carolina and Arkansas, that for some 

 time afterward the number visible in the North was alarm- 

 ingly small. If not molested by the English sparrow, the 

 Bluebird takes readily to boxes erected on poles near farm- 

 houses, similar to those frequently erected by the farmer boys 

 to attract the purple martin. A good way to encourage 

 robins and Bluebirds is to kill the English sparrows. 



THE KINGLET FAMILY 



Sylridae 



The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet 1 is one of our smallest 

 birds, and it is easily recognized by the tiny tuft of ruby-red 

 feathers on the crown of its head. In life it is a dainty little 

 feathered gem, but it is so modest and retiring that it is seen 

 only by sharp eyes. "Kinglet" means "Little King." Mrs. 

 Mabel Osgood Wright testifies strongly to its value as an 

 insect-destroyer, especially in the late autumn, when other 

 insectivorous birds have gone, when it works industriously 

 upon the trunks of evergreens. Dr. Coues considered the 

 Kinglet an exquisite singer, but I must confess that its vocal 

 powers have quite escaped me. 



THE NUTHATCH AND TITMOUSE FAMILY 



Paridae 



The birds of this Family deserve to rank as prime favor- 

 ites. They remain with us through 'the long and dreary 



1 Reg'u-lus cal-en-du'la. Length, 4.25 inches. 



