THE ROBINS GO A-TRA YELLING 



But no such unfortunate experience oc- 

 curred in our Canadian outings. Through 

 all this happy first summer of our journeys, 

 not a single digestion-disturbing object did 

 the birds meet. 



I generally established my headquarters 

 near long-needled pines, cedars, tamaracks, 

 hemlocks, balsam firs and other trees whose 

 neighborhoods are apt to be dry; and in 

 my selection of balsam-fir halting-places, I 

 had a double object in view. While keep- 

 ing a faithful watch on my birds I was able 

 to gather large supplies of the tender, fra- 

 grant tips for cushions and pillows. (The 

 newest growth, distinguishable always by 

 its strongly contrasting light green, is the 

 only one available for the purpose.) One 

 can fancy how, afterwards, in shut-in days 

 when a heavy mantle of snow lay over all 

 the woodland paths and weighed down 

 even the strongest of the great branches, 

 129 



