234 CROSS-CUT VIEWS OF WINTER. 



blue jay, is a hardy " winner in life's race," albeit 

 he is complaining bitterly of his hard lot. The 

 bright plumage and discontented voice brings a bit 

 of spring into these winter solitudes. 



In these cedars, where the robbers love to visit, 

 are often seen large tussocks, formed by thickljc 

 growing twigs, where the dry, needle-like leaves 

 have fallen off and lodged in their midst. 



These tufts prove excellent caravansaries for 

 the winter birds, for beside the shelter they give, 

 they are generally quite well supplied with the 

 larvse of certain insects, and in many of them are 

 found hoards of chestnuts and acorns, evidently 

 stored there in the autumn by the jays and wood- 

 peckers that have noted in their memoranda the 

 locality of these granaries, and so visit them in 

 the days of shorter commons. Sometimes a last 

 year's nest will be packed full of edibles — cairns 

 established by the provident birds or squirrels 

 that know as well as the wisest weather prophet 

 the coming of a snowy day. 



Among the birds that visit the cedars at this 

 season, none are more successful in bearing its 

 severity than the singular wax-wings, or cedar 

 birds. They come in squads of fifties or hundreds 

 to settle in the spray and feed on the pungent, 



