308 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



The Birds and Squirrels' Assemblage Ground 



F one were to ask 



what tree was the 



most attractive to 



birds, ahnost the 



first thought is the 



ruulljerry tree. Aside 



from the apple orchard, the presence 



of one or more of these valuable trees is a 



ly great invitation in fruiting time to the birds and 



squirrels. One summer a kingbird passed back and 



forth before our veranda, making constant visits to the 



mulberry tree. Here was often gathered an assemblage of 



J.' l)irds from every quarter of tlie 



grounds. The branches were fairly 



weighed down by the avian -^'isitors 



as they got out on the small branches 



to pick the luscious berries from the 



stems. To enumerate the species 



■"^Hf!^ witnessed one day: Besides the 



kingbird above mentioned, there 



., were four goldfinches, the first in 



point of numbers; two robins, three iff, 



cat])irds, and two waxwings. The 



kingl)ird remained long eiiougli bj 



partake of a few l)erries to satisfy his 



hunger, then, selecting a choice one 



in his bill, he flew to his nest in a <- „^ 



nearby elm tree to feed his young. 



The bluebirds were also seen feeding , • 



on these berries, and a pair on our 



grounds made frequent journeys to one of these trees, carrying 



