ber in this locality, but may vary some- 
what according to the season and indi- 
vidual characteristics. 
The food of the waxwing is varied 
both according to season and other 
conditions. Wild fruit, berries, and 
seeds form much of their food during 
the fall and winter months. Mr. A.W. 
Butler states that, "in winter nothing 
attracts them so much as the hack- 
berry (Celtis occidentalism. Some years, 
early in spring, they are found living 
upon red buds." The investigations of 
the food of this species by Professor F. 
E. L. Beal prove that the greater share 
of it consists of wild fruit or seeds with 
a very small allowance of cultivated 
fruits. Animal matter forms a rela- 
tively small proportion of the food, but 
this small proportion by no means in- 
dicates the insect-feeding habits of the 
birds. It might well be suspected that 
so varied a diet would enable the birds 
to accommodate themselves to almost 
any conditions, largely feeding upon 
the food which happens to be the 
most abundant at the time. Thus, an 
outbreak of any insect pest calls the 
waxwings in large flocks which de- 
stroy great numbers to the almost en- 
tire exclusion of fruit as a diet for the 
time. It cannot be denied that the 
waxwings do sometimes destroy not a 
little early fruit, calling down upon 
them righteous indignation; but at 
other times they more than make 
amends for the mischief done. 
Of the voice Mr. A. W. Butler says, 
"They have a peculiar lisping note, 
uttered in a monotone varying in pitch. 
As they sit among the branches of an 
early Richmond cherry tree in early 
June, the note seems to be inhaled, and 
reminds me of a small boy who, when 
eating juicy fruit, makes a noise by in- 
halation in endeavoring to prevent the 
loss of the juice and then exclaims, 
'How good!' As the birds start to 
fly, each repeats the note three or four 
times. These notes develop into a 
song as the summer comes on; a lisp- 
ing, peculiar song that tells that the 
flocks are resolving into pairs as the 
duties of the season press upon them." 
After the pairing season there is a 
great show of affection between the 
two birds, which often continues long 
after the nesting season has closed. 
THE PREACHER-BIRD. 
(Red-eyed Vireo.) 
JENNY TERRILL RUPRECHT. 
LISTEN near a grove of elms or 
maples and you will not fail to 
hear its song,a some what broken, 
rambling recitative, which no 
one has so well described as Wilson 
Flagg, who calls this bird the preacher, 
and interprets its notes as "You see it! 
You know it! Do you hear me? Do 
you believe it?" — Chapman's Bird- Life. 
Apostle of the grove across the way, 
Surpliced in color of the foliage, 
I list enchanted to thy sermon-lay, 
As if it were the wisdom of a sage; 
"You see it! You know it! Do you hear 
me? Do you believe it?" 
Ah! thou wouldst quicken memory 
to-day. 
Nor morning's chill, nor noon-tide's 
languorous heat, 
Doth hold thy voice in thrall, O, 
preacher fair; 
Perched on the greenest bough, thy 
message sweet 
Thou pourest out upon the vibrant air, 
"You see it! You know it! Do you hear 
me? Do you believe it?" 
Over and over in a swift repeat. 
Apostle of the grove! Thy song 
divine 
The God of Nature gave thee note 
by note, 
To gladder, fuller make the message 
thine, 
Rippling in beauty from thy dainty 
throat. 
"You see it! You know it! Do you hear 
me? Do you believe it?" 
Would that apostleship so sweet 
were mine! 
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