Passing of the Bluebird 37 



being molested, the warblers, pee-wees, 

 grosbeaks, orioles, and others will come 

 nearer and nearer to us. I am positive of 

 this, and have my own yard, open to all, as 

 a proof of my assertion. I am cultivating 

 that pretty warbler, the redstart, now, and 

 find the bird extremely entertaining. It 

 nests very near the house and shows no fear, 

 merely keeping out of reach. It is but one 

 of many kinds, and, though without a song, 

 it is never silent, and by reason of its ac- 

 tivity is usually more in evidence than many 

 of the larger species. Like all little birds, 

 redstarts are " feathered appetites," and eat- 

 ing from dawn to dark seems to be the sole 

 end of their existence ; but what does this 

 signify to us? The destruction of innu- 

 merable insects, the health of shade trees, 

 the perfecting of flowers. Of late these 

 birds have seemed to embody every bird- 

 world grace and typify the bird-life that is or 

 ought to be about us. That ought to be 

 about us : how much of meaning in those 

 few simple words ! There is not a door- 

 yard but should be a safe harbor for every 

 bird that now lives a life of doubtful ease in 

 the remoter thickets. The fence that sep- 



