song oi' run robin. 



27 



ringbills, have their broods hatched out. 

 The downy young are much darker 

 than those of the canvasback or the ringbill, 

 being almost uniform dusky olive above, 

 with little trace of the light colored spots 

 so conspicuous in most ducklings. 



Two or 3 mother scaups will sometimes 

 pool their interests. I once observed 41 duck- 

 lings led by one mother, while the other 3 

 herded them in the rear, whipping in the 

 stragglers. Like most diving ducks, the 



young at first get all their food from the 

 surface, picking up flies, larvae, etc., with 

 incredible quickness. The young of the 

 ruddy duck are the only ones I have no- 

 ticed diving for their food. 



The iris of the adult male lesser scaup 

 is yellow; bill pale leaden blue. In the fe- 

 male the iris is yellowish brown, bill vary- 

 ing from dark grayish to leaden blue. The 

 feet are plumbeous, with dusky joints and 

 webs in both sexes. 



SONG OF THE ROBIN. 



REV. R. S. STRINGFELLOW. 



Cheer up ! Cheer up ! Cherries are ripe ! 



cheer up ! 

 High on the topmost boughs we will sup 

 And we'll drink the red wine from nature's 



sweet cup, 

 For cherries are ripe ! cheer up ! cheer up ! 



Cheer up ! cheer up ! The day lulls to rest, 

 The sunlight fades in the clouds of the 



West, 

 My mate and my little ones sleep in their 



nest. 

 Cheer up ! cheer up ! cherries are ripe ! 



cheer up ! 



Cherries are ripe ! Cheer up ! No trouble 

 to borrow, 



For God will care for the things of to- 

 morrow. 



He brings the sweet cherries and cares for 

 us all ; 



Without His fond care not a robin shall fall. 



Cheer up ! cheer up ! cherries an 

 cheer up ! 



ripe 



The clouds of the evening have fled with 

 their gold, 



'Ihe echoes are still from the chimes that 



were tolled, 

 My little ones sleep all safe in their nest, 

 Under sheltering wings and my little mate's 



breast. 

 Cheer up ! cheer up ! cherries are ripe ! 



cheer up ! 



Cheer up ! for to-morrow will soon be here. 



Never fear, the God of all Nature is watch- 

 ing us near ; 



Swift banners of light will soon be unfurled, 



And again I shall sing to God and the 

 world. 



Cheer up ! cheer up ! cherries are ripe ! 

 cheer up ! 



So early and late my song is to all, 

 Through spring and through summer till 



snow flakes shall fall ; 

 Then far to the South my flight I shall 



wing, 

 And to others in distant lands I will sing 

 Cheer up ! cheer up ! cherries are ripe ! 



cheer up ! 



"It's an Ai display," said Mr. Pitt, at the 

 dog show. 



"It's a first class exhibition," replied Mr. 

 Penn, "but you have the wrong number." 



"How so?" 



"Instead of Ai it is Kg." 



— The Dog Fanciers' Gazette. 



