152 BIRD PARADISE 



well. I was watching them for some time last 

 evening and really found myself quite enlisted in 

 the work claiming their attention. Small flies 

 and mosquitoes are the main supply of food, but 

 I judge other creatures form no inconsiderable 

 part of the daily portion. Their work in deci- 

 mating the ranks of the mosquitoes gives them 

 place among our best toilers in the great vine- 

 yard. The only sound I ever hear from them is 

 a faint tremor of squeak like the soft cadence of 

 a rusty door hinge. 



I noticed several new birds in my lawn trees 

 this week. The vireos and warblers have arrived 

 from the South and are busy locating their sum- 

 mer homes. The warbling vireo is the most in- 

 teresting of the birds bearing the name. His 

 song allies him closely with the warblers. In 

 fact, it is part and parcel with them. The 

 energy with which this bird repeals his song 

 through the summer is remarkable. His prin- 

 cipal rival is the yellow warbler, and the two 

 make themselves heard every minute of the day. 

 Both have the faculty of keeping up a sort of 

 perpetual motion and both make full use of the 

 faculty. I fancy sometimes that the fellows are 



