ber in this locality, but may vary some- 

 what according to the season and indi- 

 vidual characteristics. 



The food of the waxwing is varied 

 both according to season and other 

 conditions. Wild fruit, berries, and 

 seeds form much of their food during 

 the fall and winter months. Mr. A. W. 

 Butler states that, "in winter nothing 

 attracts them so much as the hack- 

 berry {Celtis occide?italis). Some years, 

 early in spring, they are found living 

 upon red buds." The investigations of 

 the food of this species by Professor F. 

 E. L. Beal prove that the greater share 

 of it consists of wild fruit or seeds with 

 a very small allowance of cultivated 

 fruits. Animal matter forms a rela- 

 tively small proportion of the food, but 

 this small proportion by no means in- 

 dicates the insect-feeding habits of the 

 birds. It might well be suspected that 

 so varied a diet would enable the birds 

 to accommodate themselves to almost 

 any conditions, largely feeding upon 

 the food which happens to be the 

 most abundant at the time. Thus, an 

 outbreak of any insect pest calls the 

 waxwings in large flocks which de- 



stroy great numbers to the almost en- 

 tire exclusion of fruit as a diet for the 

 time. It cannot be denied that the 

 waxwings do sometimes destroy not a 

 little early fruit, calling down upon 

 them righteous indignation; but at 

 other times they more than make 

 amends for the mischief done. 



Of the voice Mr. A. W. Butler says, 

 "They have a peculiar lisping note, 

 uttered in a monotone varying in pitch. 

 As they sit among the branches of an 

 early Richmond cherry tree in early 

 June, the note seems to be inhaled, and 

 reminds me of a small boy who, when 

 eating juicy fruit, makes a noise by in- 

 halation in endeavoring to prevent the 

 loss of the juice and then exclaims, 

 'How good!' As the birds start to 

 fly, each repeats the note three or four 

 times. These notes develop into a 

 song as the summer comes on; a lisp- 

 ing, peculiar song that tells that the 

 flocks are resolving into pairs as the 

 duties of the season press upon them." 

 After the pairing season there is a 

 great show of affection between the 

 two birds, which often continues long 

 after the nesting season has closed. 



THE PREACHER-BIRD. 



(Red-eyed Vireo.) 



JENNY TERRILL RUPRECHT, 



LISTEN near a grove of elms or 

 maples and you will not fail to 

 hear its song,a some what broken, 

 rambling recitative, which no 

 one has so well described as Wilson 

 Flagg, who calls this bird the preacher, 

 and interprets its notes as ''You see it! 

 You know it! Do you hear me? Do 

 you believe it?" — Chapma?is Bird-Life. 



Apostle of the grove across the way, 



Surpliced in color of the foliage, 

 I list enchanted to thy sermon-lay. 



As if it were the wisdom of a sage; 

 ''You see it! Yon ktiow it! Do you hear 

 me? Do you believe it?" 

 Ah! thou wouldst quicken memory 

 to-day. 



Nor morning's chill, nor noon-tide's 

 languorous heat, 



Doth hold thy voice in thrall, O, 

 preacher fair; 

 Perched on the greenest bough, thy 

 message sweet 

 Thou pourest out upon the vibrant air, 

 "You see it! You know it! Do you hear 

 me? Do you believe it?" 

 Over and over in a swift repeat. 



Apostle of the grove! Thy song 



divine 

 The God of Nature gave thee note 



by note. 

 To gladder, fuller make the message 



thine. 

 Rippling in beauty from thy dainty 



throat. 

 "You see it! You know it! Do you hear 



me? Do you believe it?" 

 Would that apostleship so sweet 



were mine! 



