A BAND OF MERRY LITTLE WANDERERS. 



^ April brings a band of merry little 

 wanderers. They are a company of 

 small sprites, always cheerful and 

 sociable; their tiny forms are clothed 

 with olive-green feathers and they wear 

 golden-red plumes in their caps, and are 

 commonly known as Ruby-crowned 

 Kinglets. These seemingly frail little 

 creatures range over the whole of North 

 America. Wintering on the " southern 

 border of the United States and south- 

 ward, they traverse the Union before 

 selecting their nesting sites, and thus 

 breed in the far north. 



They arrive here before the trees have 

 unfurled their spring-time robes and 

 tarry about three weeks ; that is, from the 

 coming of the first until the departure of 

 the last is usually about that length of 

 time. And, then in October they honor 

 us with another transient visit, for com- 

 pelled by an irresistible impulse, they 

 follow the sun in his course. These little 

 feathered beauties are extremely interest- 

 ing, having a combination of attractions 

 that makes their society a delight, and 

 no one will ever regret forming their 

 acquaintance, even though forced to sub- 

 mit to a passing one. 



Ruby-crowns are trustful little things, 

 and will allow the student to approach 

 quite near them. They half-glide, half- 

 flit along the branches, and seem never to 



be still, but theirs is not the nervous 

 activity of some of the warblers. When 

 wandering over the branches their jew- 

 eled crowns flash in the sunlight with 

 real gem-like splendor as they turn their 

 heads from side to side in a most win- 

 some way, while their bright eyes pry 

 here and there among the swelling buds, 

 not failing to bestow a coquettish glance 

 on the observer. 



The Ruby-crowned Kinglets with all 

 of these charms, diminutive size, brilliant 

 plumage, winning manners — few birds 

 can boast as many — are also gifted with 

 iTiusical powers of no mean order. In- 

 deed they are exquisite songsters. Their 

 song, a prominent feature of the spring 

 migration, is quite prolonged, the sweet- 

 est little strain imaginable, tinkling, soft 

 and rich. 



Now, if anyone is of the impression 

 that these dainty little charmers lead but 

 lives of frivolous gayety, let him be unde- 

 ceived, for they are as busy as the day 

 IS long, in the interest of the farmer. 

 Indefatigable in searching for insects and 

 larvae inhabiting trees, carefully and 

 thoroughly exploring branch, twig and 

 bud, they slay countless numbers of these 

 destructive enemies. And though they 

 demand no wages for their valuable ser- 

 vices, surely they merit our intelligent 

 love and appreciation. 



Addie L. Booker. 



152 



.1 



