132 WOOD NOTES AND NEST HUNTING. 



The cedar-birds appear suddenly on the spot, silent 

 but observing. The song-sparrow hops upon a 

 twig, from his washing, preens his speckled breast, 

 and curiously eyes his brilliant neighbor. The 

 yellow warbler holds up her head from behind an 

 alder-leaf and goes skulking through the thick 

 foliage. The indigo-bird looks upon the scene 

 from the lofty spray of yonder elm, and begins a 

 song, when a puff of wind blows him off and cuts 

 it short. The brown thresher, last to come, flies 

 across the opening, flaunts his long tail as he 

 alights on a low branch, and utters a few croaks. 

 Then all is silent as before. 



From the middle to the last of June most of 

 the birds have hungry families to maintain. Ex- 

 cepting in the morning and evening chorus not 

 much time is spent in singing, so busy are they in 

 searching for the particular kind of food necessary 

 for the sustenance and growth of theii- children. 

 These soft, smooth, fat spanners that are now 

 measuring the leaves and hanging by their webs 

 everywhere among the trees, have come just at the 

 right time. There are hundreds of different kinds 

 and sizes from which to choose, so that all tastes 

 and throats are suited. Though the naked species 

 of caterpillars are considered a more dainty dish 



