140 BIRD PARADISE 



pulpy lump of matter that never is quite so 

 happy as when gorging himself on a stalk of a 

 potato vine. Grosbeak may show some defect of 

 relish by using the fellow for food, but if he does 

 it is about the only defect I know in the bird. 

 Among our wood birds he ranks high in both 

 song and appearance. The nest he constructs, 

 while not flrst-class, serves his purpose hand- 

 somely. The song is a warble that feels its 

 course along the aisles of the wood in a way 

 most attractive. In fact it is one of the delight- 

 ful songs among the wood melodies. I think they 

 extend the season of song longer than any other 

 of our wood birds. 



I saw near the swamp last week a bright crim- 

 son colored fly. It was perhaps half larger than 

 the common house-fly, and appeared to be just 

 entered upon the life of the spring season. What 

 a singular provision it is that graduates the fly 

 in full dress, thoroughly furnished for all the 

 good work that he seems ready to engage in. 

 This fellow was just a little dazed by the glamor 

 of the new world upon which he had so recently 

 entered. He would climb a spear of grass and, 

 balancing himself at the top, spread and shake 



