64 BIRD-LAND ECHOES. 



the more open willows to the thick-set cedars and 

 gloomy spruces, even when it was a matter of shelter 

 for the night. Occasionally the whole flock, as I 

 may call it, would leave the trees and alight on the 

 rubbish near the ground. Evidently there was an 

 abundance of food here, for the dead grass, twigs, 

 and bits of rotten wood left by the freshets were 

 alive with insects ; but, if food was their object, the 

 warblers indulged in a very quick lunch, for they 

 never remained long enough to gather more than 

 two or three spiders or beetles. Then, as if in 

 answer to some signal, they would again throng the 

 willows, chirp with greater animation, and move to 

 some new point up or down stream, as fancy led 

 them. 



An occurrence not infrequent which seems to 

 change the plans of not only this but all the migrat- 

 ing warblers is a violent northeast storm during 

 the first week of May, the Quakers' " Yearly Meet- 

 ing" storm, and the farmers' "blossom" storm. I 

 have known a rain of three days' duration to seri- 

 ously disable hundreds of birds : to chill them until 

 they were unable to keep out of the cat's clutches 

 and very nearly fell into mine. Every plan of the 

 birds is upset, apparently. Food and warmth at 

 any price being their single aim in life, many come, 

 at such a time, into our cities, while others stay close 

 about the barns and stables of the farms. There is 

 sometimes considerable mortality resulting from such 

 distressing conditions, but the warm days sure to 

 follow smooth their way, and the delayed birds are 



