18 



Birds & Nature Magazine 



from the vine for the return of their dar- 

 lings. 



The cat-bird neighbor, always prying 

 about, took note of our custom and played 

 "spy" in the honeysuckle. At the first 

 opening of the door out peeped a black 

 beak, from which proceeded the familiar 

 cat-cry we had learned to not heed. Paying 

 no attention to this self-appointed guardian 

 of the little thrashers, we took them into 

 the parlor, where they would remain for 

 half an hour. 



It will probably take another generation 

 of fruit-men to wake up to the fact that 

 these and other birds habitually mistake the 

 scarecrow for a guide-board to "ways and 

 means," or a sign for "home cooking." 



Would the farmer stop when he has fin- 

 ished the very worst scarecrow he can con- 

 jure up out of last year's trousers and coat 

 and hat and straw from the bedding mow, 

 the birds would have fair play. But the 

 shot-gun, alas! picks off the poor little mew 

 birds almost as fast as he himself picked off 

 the berries an hour before, and so the 

 farmer is accused of having "no heart." 



But the farmer's boy of the bare feet and 

 brown legs loves the funny bird. He will 

 sit for an hour near its brier-bound nest, 

 chuckling at its screams and gestures, and 

 wondering "why it isn't a cat for good and 

 all." 



sfisfis^ 



Catbird Twins 



' ' fVe Live in Hope. ' ' 



All this time the cat-bird kept up its 

 mewing and screaming at the door, outside, 

 nor did it cease until the birds were placed 

 back in the nest. 



The custom of the cat-birds everywhere 

 to play the detective, and sound the note of 

 warning in behalf of all other birds, is 

 well known. Is there danger anywhere, 

 they rush to the rescue with imploring cry, 

 setting up a great agony of sound and pos- 

 ture, very ludicrous if not pathetic. 



And the poor cat-bird is always at 

 swords' points with the farmer. Scarecrows 

 a plenty deck the orchards and ornament 

 the gardens. More do these historical and 

 sometimes artistic beings serve to ease the 

 farmer's conscience than to intimidate the 

 birds ; for it is well known that cat-birds 

 thrive best under the grotesque shadows of 

 the scarecrow. And the more horrible of 

 face and figure are these individuals cre- 

 ated the more are they sought after by the 

 very birds they are intended to scare out of 

 their wits. 



went 



The Coming of Spring 



ONCE more Spring's dear, remem- 

 bered .thrill 

 The Winter's heart 

 through. 

 Out came the willow silverly 

 And white the shadbush blew. 



A little meadow that I know 



Ran suddenly to gold. 

 Till every lifted buttercup 



Had more than it could hold. 



The yellow finches perched and sang 

 Their few notes sweet and loud, 



Or drifted up against the blue — 

 A bright, melodious cloud. 



But oh, but oh, the meadow-lark! 



And oh ! the song he sang ! 

 All rapture, passion, tenderness 



Aclied through me while it rang. 



And as I listening bowed my head 



To hide the springing tear, 

 Lo, all about me violets! 



And Spring herself was here. 



— Ella Higginson. 



