152 SPAING AT THE. CAPITAL. 



The most mischievous enemies of the cherries, how- 

 ever, here, as at the North, are the cedar wax-wings, or 

 " cherry-birds." How quickly they spy out the tree ! 

 Long before the cherry begins to turn, they are around, 

 alert and cautious. In small flocks they circle about, 

 high in air, uttering their fine note, or plunge quickly 

 into the tops of remote trees. Day by day they ap- 

 proach nearer and nearer, reconnoitring the premises, 

 and watching the growing fruit. Hardly have the 

 green lobes turned a red cheek to the sun, before 

 their beaks have scarred it. At first they approach 

 the tree stealthily, on the side turned from the house, 

 diving quickly into the branches in ones and twos, 

 while the main flock is ambushed in some shade-tree 

 not far off. They are most apt to commit their depre- 

 dations very early in the morning and on cloudy, rainy 

 days. As the cherries grow sweeter the birds grow 

 bolder, till, from throwing tufts of grass, one has to 

 throw stones in good earnest, or lose all his fruit. In 

 June they disappear, following the cherries to the North, 

 where, by July, they are nesting in the orchards and 

 cedar groves. 



Among the permanent summer residents here (one 

 might say city residents, as they seem more abundant 

 in town than out), the yellow warbler or summer yel- 

 low-bird is conspicuous. He comes about the middle 

 of April, and seems particularly attached to the silver 

 poplars. In ever}' street, and all day long, one may 

 hear his thin, sharp warble. When nesting, the female 



