364 The Bird 



he is still ever on the move, from twig to twig, from tree 

 to tree. Nevertheless, he has gained an advantage which 

 ensures to his race a long life; for in a tree whose foliage 

 and twiglets are being scanned with the microscopic glances 

 of his relatives, he gets more than the others by watch- 

 ing for the many insects which are alarmed at the dis- 

 turbance of the tiny hunters, and which flutter out in 

 the bright sunshine only to flutter straight down his 

 throat. Mother Nature has seen his efforts in the new 

 field with satisfaction, and has given to him a little re- 

 ward; for from either side of his mouth several stiff bristles 

 project, and many times, when he has misjudged the dis- 

 tance or the dodging powers of his prey, these little hairs 

 shunt the gnat or fly into his mouth. 



The Myrtle Warbler is an expert catcher of flies, and 

 has in addition another string to his bow, which bids fair 

 to place him at the head of the list of new departures 

 in warblers. He has learned that bay berries are not only 

 an occasional welcome variety to the everlasting diet of 

 insects, but that a warbler can comfortably live upon 

 them when the cold has benumbed the little winged and 

 crawling creatures. So, instead of migrating south at 

 the first hint of winter, these hardy little Myrtle Warblers 

 sometimes remain with us throughout the whole season of 

 cold and snow. 



A most daring departure from old-established prin- 

 ciples of the warbler clans is that of the Water Thrushes. 

 Ages ago, perhaps, we may imagine that some member 

 of this group, while drinking at a stream or pond, watched 

 the little bobbing sandpipers as they scurried past along 



