The W'axwings are also quite erratic 

 in tlieir bVeeding habits. Locahtics in 

 which they have nested one season may 

 not be frequented by them again for some 

 years, if ever. Their nests are usually 

 hidden among the branches of evergreen 

 trees where they are not readily seen and 

 often are beyond the climbing ability of 

 man. Mr. Robert Kennicott was perhaps 

 the first ornithologist to find a nest in 

 America. This he discovered near Fort 

 Yukon in July, 1861. This "nest was 

 placed on the side of a branch of a small 

 spruce which was growing on the edge 

 of a clump, on low ground. The nest 

 was at an elevation of about eighteen 

 feet. It was large, the base being made 

 of dry spruce twigs, and the nest itself 

 constructed of fine grass and moose-hair, 



lined internally with large feathers." 

 While their nests are always loose and 

 bulky, the materials used vary. Among 

 these materials are twigs, moss, dried 

 grass and weed stems, and they are nearly 

 always lined with finer materials of the 

 same kind and with feathers, hair and 

 leaves. The nests are usually placed 

 near the outer end of a limb and from 

 fifteen to twenty-five feet above the 

 ground. 



These gentle and beautiful boreal birds 

 are far from harmful to the interests of 

 man. During the summer they feed 

 largely upon insects and in the winter 

 season upon wild fruits. They are also 

 very fond of the berries of the mountain 

 ash and the red cedar. 



AMONG THE TREES. 



THE ELM. 



High up among the hills a little 

 brook babbled merrily along; here, 

 singing softly to itself as it flowxd o'er 

 its shallow^, pebbly bottom, its bright, 

 clear, pure waters rippling and dancing 

 in the sunlight; there, murmuring 

 sweetly to the bending grasses and 

 starry flowers as it mirrored their grace- 

 iul forms in its cool, shadowy depths, 

 or again plunging headlong over some 

 slight declivity in its mad haste. On- 

 ward and onward it flowed, steadily and 

 steadily it grew as it played with the 

 tall rushes which grew along its margin, 

 or wdiispered softly to the pretty yel- 

 low^ warblers which built in the willows 

 along its banks; sometimes it widened 

 into a pool and the meek-eyed cows 

 would quench their thirst or stand belly- 

 deep in its cool waters. Onward, still 

 onward, until, where a great elm w^aved 

 its graceful branches in the wind, it 

 joined the current of the mighty, rush- 

 ing river, its pure, sweet waters losing 

 themselves in those of the larger stream. 



Beneath this elm on a bright day in 

 golden O-ctober sat Mabel. Her head 

 rested against the deeply furrowed bark 

 of the tree and now and again she 



caught glimpses of the pretty, deserted 

 nests of the oriole. 



'T wonder where the orioles are 

 now," she thought. ''How pretty they 

 used to look as they flitted about in 

 their gorgeous plumage ! I wonder if 

 the old tree misses them! I do, and 

 surely it must." 



'T do miss them," seemed wafted to 

 her ears on the wind. "Yes, I miss 

 them, but they will come again in the 

 spring." 



''Oh how delightful to look at it in 

 that way. I'm dull and sad, dear Tree, 

 at the departure of all my summer 

 friends — the birds and the flowers; so 

 please talk to me and I'll prove a very 

 attentive listener." 



For answer the tree waved all its 

 great plumes and its glad, free tones 

 reached Mabel's ears. 



"Although our family is small, con- 

 sisting of only six members, and though 

 we cannot boast the ancient lineage of 

 my friends the \\^illov; and the Oak, 

 nor of the very ancient Conifers, still 

 w^e are an ancient race, for traces of us 

 exist in the tertiary rocks of, if you will 

 believe me, that cold country Green- 



149 



