SPRING ARRIVAL OF THE BIRDS. 23 
roundings. Elegant in form and graceful in motion, 
with a plumage of soft, rich groundwork delicately 
tinted with brighter hues, these birds well harmonize 
with the fruits and flowers with which they are so often 
associated, for, although usually insectivorous, they eat 
more or less of ripe cherries, and also petals of blossoms, 
especially those of the red maple and hawthorn. They 
call attention“to their presence by a faint lisping note 
unlike that of any other bird. They also indulge in a 
little warble so low as seldom to be noticed, except by 
the attentive ear. These pretty creatures are very gen- 
tle and affectionate among themselves, going about in 
little flocks and caressing and feeding one another like 
thé turtle doves. If one of a pair is caught the other 
ill allow itself to be taken also, rather than leave its 
imprisoned mate. These birds were formerly plentiful 
and very tame, but, to a great extent, they have shared 
the fate of so many others of bright plumage. 
The present general discussion of this subject must 
necessarily eventuate in wiser dealings with these 
friends and better protection of them. Sensible women 
are quite generally discarding these unbecoming deco- 
rations. A change in public sentiment is apparent. A 
conversation I recently overheard between two little 
girls on the subject was a hopeful sign and worth 
noting. A sweet-faced little nine-year-old girl, seeing 
one of these ornaments on the hat of her companion, 
asked her why she wore it. ‘“O! it is so pretty,” she 
answered; “but,” said the first, “would it not be much 
‘prettier alive, in a tree where it could sing?” 
