YELLOW-THROAT, MARYLAND 



Many a long year ago .... I asked about this little 

 bird, and was told that it was the "black-checked wren/' 

 and for years, until Audubon's seven volumes came to 

 hand, I called it such. It is quite as good a name as the 

 one given in the books. 



Why " Mary land" should be tacked on to the popular 

 name is not evident. ABBOTT. Birdland Echoes. 28 



The bright eyes of the male masquerader shine through 

 his black mask, where he intently watches you from the 

 tangle of syringa and snowball bushes; and as he flies 

 into the laburnum .... you are so impressed with 

 his grace and elegance that you follow too audaciously, 

 he thinks, and off he goes. And yet this is a bird that 

 seems to delight in being pursued. It never goes so far 

 away that you are not tempted to follow it .... and 

 it always gives you just glimpse enough of its beauties 

 and graces before it flies ahead, to invite the hope of a 

 closer inspection next time. 



BLANCH AN. Bird Neighbors. 23 



In domestic relations, few birds are more affectionate. 

 The male carries food most assiduously to his mate at 

 the nest, caressing her, singing for her diversion, and 

 guarding her from disturbance. 



FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. Birds of Village and Field. 1 



I have found several nests in skunk-cabbage plants, 

 and still wonder if they were placed there for protection, 

 for probably no animal is disposed to touch the plant if 

 it can avoid it; but what of the sense of smell in the birds? 



ABBOTT. Birds About Us. 27 



183 



