18 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



another background of a most pleasing harmony 

 of colours. A nest composed entirely of pale 

 green hanging moss, with eggs of bluish gray, 

 spotted and splashed with brown and black, 

 guarded by a pair of these exquisite birds, is a 

 sight to delight the eye. 



When the young have left the nest, if alarmed 

 by an intruder, they will frequently, trusting to 

 their protective dress of streaky brown, freeze 

 into most unbird-like attitudes, drawing the 

 feathers close to the body and stretching the neck 

 stiffly upward, — ^almost bittern-like. Undoubtedly 

 other interesting habits which these strangely 

 picturesque birds may possess are still awaiting 

 discovery by some enthusiastic observer with a 

 pair of opera-glasses and a stock of that ever 

 important characteristic — ^patience. 



Although, during the summer months, myriads 

 of insects are killed and eaten by the cedar wax- 

 wings, yet these birds are pre-eminently berry 

 eaters, — choke-cherries, cedar berries, blueber- 

 ries, and raspberries being preferred. Watch a 

 flock of these birds in a cherry tree, and you will 

 see the pits fairly rain down. We need not place 

 our heads, o la Newton, in the path of these falling 

 stones to deduce some interesting facts, — ^indeed 

 to solve the very destiny of the fruit. Many whole 

 cherries are carried away by the birds to be de- 

 voured elsewhere, or we may see parent waxwings 



