THE PeRcHING Birps. 31 
time very common, and to all people delightful, Blue- 
bird. This bird early attracted attention, and because 
of its pleasing warble, bright colors, and sociable 
disposition became a favorite at once. Its nesting 
habits being recognized, boxes for its accommoda- 
tion were set about dwellings, and there was proba- 
bly not a farm-house in the country but had its blue- 
birds. What a change has taken place! Now one 
seldom sees these birds except as wild wanderers in 
the fields or forest. They come and go, even in our 
villages, it is true, but not as a regular feature of 
early spring. In the Middle States the bluebird is 
not migratory. They collect in considerable num- 
bers in September, and, associated with kingbirds 
and orioles, seek the warm, low-lying ground, where 
the last of the sum- 
mer’s insect-life still 
lingers. At such a 
time they have much 
of the movements of 
typical flycatchers. 
Not long ago I 
watched one bird for 
nearly an hour. It 
was perched upon a 
tall, outreaching stake 
in the angle of an old 
worm-fence. From 
this it sallied out, pewee-like, into the upper air and 
seized some insect, and then returned toits post. Oc- 
casionally it would fly a hundred yards or more and 
try some other outlook; but none other suited it so 
Bluebird. 
