THE CEDAR-BIRD. 267 



done, that this bird is worthy his protection, instead of 

 deserving his anger. 



Says Nuttall, in speaking of this fact, — 



"At this season (April), to repay the gardener for the tithe 

 of his crop, their natural due, they fail not to assist in ridding his 

 trees of more deadly enemies which infest them, and the small 

 caterpillars, beetles, and various insects now constitute their only 

 food ; and for hours at a time they may be seen feeding on the all- 

 despoiling canker-worms, which infest our apple-trees and elms. 

 On these occasions, silent and sedate, after plentifully feeding, they 

 sit dressing their feathers, in near contact on the same branch, to 

 the number of five or six ; and, as the season of selective attach- 

 ment approaches, they may be observed pluming each other, and 

 caressing with the most gentle fondness. This friendly trait is 

 carried so far, that an eye-witness assures me he has seen one 

 among a row of these birds seated upon a branch dart after an 

 insect, and offer it to his associate when caught, who very disin- 

 terestedly passed it to the next ; and, each delicately declining the 

 offer, the morsel has proceeded backwards and forwards before it 

 was appropriated." 



The note of the Cedar-bird, like that of the Wax-wing, is 

 a feeble, plaintive twie, twie, uttered often, and by both 

 sexes. 



