BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



tree top, descends to the ground and searches 

 for insects. The Oriole is hunting among the 

 branches for caterpillars, the Meadowlark and 

 the Bobolink are hunting for worms and 

 beetles in the meadow, the Robin is digging 

 them up in lawn and garden, while the Cuckoo 

 does not hesitate to pounce upon a full grown 

 hairy caterpillar, a thing at which most birds 

 would look askance. The Warbler, Nuthatch, 

 and Chickadee keep innumerable insects off 

 the trees, neglecting neither trunk, branches 

 nor leaves. Very thorough is their work. It 

 seems all the same to these birds whether they 

 are clinging to the branch upside down or right 

 side up so long as their sharp little beaks can 

 reach insects spied out by their sharp little 

 eyes. Each one among them is an expert in its 

 work. The Kingbird and Phoebe and the 

 Wood Peewee are dining on winged insects, and 

 the members of the Finch family are helping 

 the Sparrows with the weed seeds. The Blue- 

 bird is busy gathering his particular choice of 

 insects. The Swallows are hunting the flies, 

 and the little black Swifts, circling about high 

 above the elms, are busy with the insects of the 



air. 



[18] 



