UTILITY OF BIRDS IN WOODLANDS. 101 
in the forest. It is true that usually there are fewer birds, 
both in numbers of species and individuals, in most northern 
forests than in more open or cultivated Jands. This is par- 
ticularly true of coniferous forests, for such woods harbor 
fewer insects than deciduous forests, and so furnish a more 
meager food supply for birds. Those birds that live and 
breed in the deep woods, however, are especially fitted to 
destroy the trees’ enemies. 
This care of the trees is kept up throughout the year by 
the ebb and flow of the tide of bird life. In the chill days 
of March and early April, when sunshine and shadow fleck 
the lingering snow, in silent, leafless woods and along swol- 
len streams, the lusty Fox Sparrow searches for seeds and for 
dormant insects,, which only await the warmer sun of April 
or May to emerge from their hiding places and attack the 
trees. This Sparrow and its companions, the Tree Sparrow 
and the.Junco, soon pass on to the north, making way for 
the White-throats and Thrushes, which continue the good 
work, to be followed in their turn by other Thrushes and the 
Towhees. Birds are not plentiful in the woods in early 
April, but nevertheless diligent Titmice, 
Woodpeckers, Jays, Nuthatches, and 
Kinglets are there and at work. In the 
warm days of May, when nature has 
awakened from her long winter’s sleep ; 
when the little, light-green oak leaves are 
just opening; when the bright young Fie. oe 
birch leaves decorate, but do not hide, : 
the twigs; when every leaflet vies with the early flowers 
in beauty, and every branch upholds its grateful offering ; 
when insects which were dormant or sluggish during the 
earlier days of the year become active, and their swarming 
offspring appear on bud and leaf,—then the south wind 
brings the migratory host of birds which winter near the 
equator. Unnoticed by men, they sweep through the woods, 
they encompass the trees; flight after flight passes along 
on its way to the north, all resting daily in the woods and 
gleaning insects ere they go. No one who has not watched 
these beautiful birds hour after hour and day after day, and 
