This is no small share of the glory of the whole 

 bird world. 



I ought not to name redstart as a regular occu- 

 pant of the orchard. He belongs to the woods, 

 and must be reckoned a visitor to the apple- 

 trees, only an occasional builder, at best. The 

 orchard is too open for him. He is an actor, 

 and needs a leafy setting for his stage. In the 

 woods, against a dense background of green, he 

 can play butterfly with charming effect, can 

 spread himself and flit about like an autumn 

 leaf or some wandering bit of paradise life, 

 with wings of the grove's richest orange light 

 and its deepest shadow. 



When, however, he has a fancy for the or- 

 chard, this dainty little warbler shows us what 

 the wood-birds can do in the way of friendship 

 and sociability. 



Across the road, in an apple-tree whose 

 branches overhang a kitchen roof, built a pair 

 of redstarts. No one discovered the birds till 

 the young came ; then both parents were seen 

 about the yard the whole day long. They were 

 as much at home as the chickens, even more 

 familiar. Having a leisure moment one day, 

 [79] 



