146 FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



an evident feeling of confidence in tlie good-will of 

 mankind. 



The bluebird is evenly colored with pale ultra- 

 marine from his crown to the middle of his back and 

 wings ; the brightest color is at the shoulders ; under 

 his bill is a little white, but his breast is rusty red. 

 The long feathers of his wings and those of his tail 

 are slate-gray tinged blue ; beneath he is white. I 

 can conceive of nothing more beautifully soft in color 



than the plumage of 

 the bhiebird in early 

 spring, when the in- 

 cipient green grass 

 and the yet leafless 

 but budding twigs 

 of the orchard trees 

 are but a welcome 

 promise of color to come. But if once our eyes are 

 fortunate enough to catch the gleam of the bluebird's 

 wings against the leaden hue of a cloudy New 

 England sky we are satisfied ; and amid the gray 

 surroundings the touch of cerulean blue seems as 

 precious as it is beautiful. 



It is not strange that the farmer rejoices at the 

 advent of the bluebird, either, for it has been esti- 

 mated that each pair destroys in one season from 

 fifty to one hundred thousand worms and grubs. 



