BIRD PARADISE 87 



ehoir. He belongs to the large sparrow family 

 and the keen instincts of his race help him 

 wonderfully in running the gauntlet of his many 

 enemies. They are not very plentiful, for I 

 rarely ever see more than a single pair in any one 

 season. I find them often in company with the 

 rose-breasted grosbeak, so I conclude they are 

 fast friends. A favorite resort for this bird is a 

 clearing near the wood, partly grown up with 

 bushes. I notice that his perch for singing is 

 some small tree in the clearing, where, seated on 

 the topmost bough, he trills a song that ranks 

 well with those of his fellow birds. I never have 

 known any blemishes on his character. On the 

 contrary he has a very clean record. Of course 

 he meets with the vicissitudes that all bright 

 colored birds meet with. His brilliant hue be- 

 trays his hiding place, and I suppose that is one 

 reason why his family numbers so few members. 

 In my boyhood they frequently came into the 

 orchard of the old homestead, and we saw several 

 pair each season. The dense wood, however, is 

 the fellow's place of greater safety and he rarely 

 ventures beyond its bounds. 



This week brought the birds in full numbers. 

 I have already seen five or six different species. 



