colder months. Even in August, when the destruction of grain is at its height, 

 weed seed forms more than 30 per cent of the food." (Beal.) 



Rusty Blackbird (Scolecophagus carolinus). — "The Rusty Crackle 

 (Scolecophagus carolinus) of the eastern United States and Brewer's Blackbird 

 (S. cyanocephalus) of the west are similar birds, whose habits of associating in 

 large flocks would indicate that they could do great damage to grain fields if they 

 chose to visit them for food. Stomach examinations show that the eastern bird 

 Hves to a great extent upon animal substances, principally insects, and as the 

 species retires to the extreme northern edge of the country and beyond to breed, 

 it does not appear in most of the grain-raising states until the crops of wheat and 

 oats have been harvested. It feeds to some extent on corn, but the damage 

 appears to be slight. Brewer's Blackbird, on the contrary, breeds over the greater 

 part of its range and only retires from the northern part during a short time in 

 winter. It is more of a grain eater than the Rusty Grackle and does considerable 

 damage in wheat-growing areas in the far west. Like the Rusty Grackle, it is a 

 great consumer of insects." (Beal.) 



CowBiRD (Malothrus ater). — This bird is said not to be seriously injurious 

 to grain, but its habit of laying in the nests of* smaller and much more valuable 

 species, the young of which are, in consequence, often starved, should be sufficient 

 to warrant us in denying it legal protection. 



The Far-away Days 



By Millie Noel Long 



There's a song in my heart of the far-away days, 

 Of dark, mossy wood-paths and sweet, grassy ways, 

 A song made of blossoms dewy and fair, 

 Spilling their fragrance on sunlighted air — 

 A story recited by wind through the trees 

 And chorused by meadow-larks, warblers and bees; 

 It tells of wild places where bobolinks sang. 

 Their piercingly sweet, wild cadenzas that rang 

 So startlingly rapid and filling all space, 

 One listened in vain to determine their place. 

 O, the song of those beautiful seasons, so fair, 

 Will lift up the care-saddened heart as a prayer, 

 And the scenes of those far-away days never cease 

 To bring, with their memory, wonderful peace. 



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