_ THE GLEANERS 
Busy little Gleamers, do you know how well 
You teach the lesson of a world’s great plan: 
Happy, bright wings fluttering to and fro, 
Give a song and service for the good of man? | 
—Nina Moore 
Not only do the small birds of the preceding chapter 
give the most of their time to volunteer work upon the limbs | 
and trunks of trees, but there are others that assist in this 
labor. Many tiny creatures help in hunting insects, their — 
eggs, and larvae, searching for these pests on the leaves, 
flowers, and twigs of the forests, doing unpaid police duty 
on or about the outer parts of the trees. 
Naturally many of these birds are summer residents, 
going south, often, even before plants begin to prepare for 
winter; and they do not come back until the leaf buds have 
cast off their brown coats, and their swollen contents are 
spread out to dance in spring breezes. Among these mig- 
rants are the wood warblers, the ge ilscnade and most of 
the vireos. = 
The Anthony Vireo oceasionally braves the winter 
storms of the Northwest on the west side. He is a rare 
resident, but makes a great amount of noise during the damp 
‘seasons in the places where he chooses to locate. A pair — 
have lived in one yard near Puget Sound this past season ~ 
and it was fortunate that the naked alders and maples gave — 
- good views of them, as, usually, when the leaves are on the 
trees, these dusky shadows are known only by their voices. 
They are high in the trees, and seem to know how to keep 
the sun at their backs, so as to dull the eyes of one who 
wishes sight of them, while viving them % a chance for clear 
vision. | 
The first time they were heard in December, one 
39° 
