April 
expressive, if not elegant, sobriquet of ‘< tee- 
tertail’’ or ‘‘tip-up.’’ The long, thin anat- 
omy of the waders gives them a somewhat 
ungainly appearance as compared with the 
flowing outlines of the land-birds. Yet the 
water-fowl have a strong and unique fascina- 
tion, in part doubtless due to the reflection of 
the water’s own mysterious influence. 
9 
The next warbler to arrive was the well- 
known but always welcome ‘‘ black-and-white 
creeper,’’ whose name is a polysyllabic state- 
ment of its plumage and method of progression 
as it scrambles about on the trunks and branches. 
It seldom occurs to one, as he watches the 
sprightly movements and graceful posturings of 
this and so many other species, intent only upon 
satisfying their hunger, what an incessant and 
invaluable service they are thus rendering to 
man himself. We are forced to the conclusion 
that the feathered tribe is about the most ingen- 
ious combination of utility and ornament ever 
devised by the Creator. 
A few feet from where this little fellow uncon- 
sciously introduced himself to me (I say Aémself 
purposely, for his graceful complement was lag- 
127 
