late in August or early in September they 

 leave for their winter home in the south. 

 The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a valu- 

 able insectivorous bird, destroying thous- 

 ands of 'noxious insects. Some of these 

 it captures on the wing in the manner of 

 the flycatchers, and in doing this work 

 it is fully as adept. This bird should 

 be encouraged to build its nest in the 



vicinity of farms, and the farmer should 

 protect both the bird and its nest and 

 eggs. No one who has not enquired 

 carefully into the matter can imagine of 

 what incalculable value these little feath- 

 ered songsters are to farmers and agri- 

 culturists. Let us, therefore, do our best 

 to protect them. 



Collins Thurber. 



PICTURES IN CRYSTAL 



Fine as mist the rain-drops fell. 

 The breeze was a dreamy murmur ; 



But ere the dawn, o'er hill and dell 

 Swept song of a cunning rover : 



"Old earth lay dreaming of May, I know ; 



So I have a lesson taught her ! 

 I've spun her a robe of crusted snow, 



A necklace of purest water." 



Ah, when the Sabbath sun came up, 

 King Frost on his steed was seated. 



With palette hid in an acorn cup. 

 And his wond'rous work completed ! 



On mountain peak, with icy beard. 



Old Winter, he notched his tally ; 

 While we, surprised, from the casement peered,- 



Transformed was our quiet valley ! 



Though opening buds on every tree, 



Frost claimed as a royal duty, 

 And the Goddess of Spring wept sore to see 



Her casket despoiled of beauty ; 



The fringe on the golden robin's nest 



Seemed lace of the finest tissue, 

 And every cone on the larch's crest 



A coin of the newest issue ! 



Each twig wore beads of mystic charm. 



All counted by April's thrushes ; 

 The brook flashed like bracelet on snowy arm, 



Frilled deeply with silver rushes ! 



The smallest gem on green plant tost, 



Shone like queen's bridal present: 

 Yet these pendants, spun at so much cost, 



Were like dew-drops — evanescent ! 



— George Bancroft Griffith. 



113 



