A Tree Trapper, Ground Gleaner, Seed Sower, and Weed Warrior, besides being a fine singer.

THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

(THE POTATO-BUG BIRD)

“This must be the bird I saw the other day in the brush lot by the old barn,” said Rap; “and there were two more this morning in our own potato patch.  Why do they go there, Doctor?” “Because this bird, besides wearing a beautiful rosy shield on his breast, and singing at morning and evening more beautifully even than the very best Robin, is a very industrious and useful bird.  He earns his living by helping farmers clear their fields of potato-bugs.  If you go quietly over to the large potato lot on the north side of the Farm, you will find these birds at work any morning.  I saw them myself to-day, and am going to trust my crop entirely to their keeping this season.  They are nesting in the young growth near these very river woods, and I will show you one of their homes presently.  You see that protecting birds, and leaving suitable bits of woodland and brush for them to build in, is practical as well as sentimental.

[Illustration:  Rose-breasted Grosbeak.]

“This Grosbeak dares not trust its brilliant colors in large trees or open places, and so nests where it may hide in a maze of bushes.  When it finds the right spot, it is not very particular about nest-building.  A jumble of weeds, twigs, roots, and sometimes rags or bits of paper, serves to hold its light-blue eggs with brown markings.

“If it be ever right to cage a wild bird, you may make a prisoner of this Grosbeak; but remember, you must take a young male before it has known the joys of freedom, and give at least a half-hour every day to taking care of him.  Then he will grow to love you and be a charming pet, living happily and singing gladly; but under any other circumstances it is less cruel to shoot one than to make it a prisoner.”

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Length about eight inches.

Male:  black on the head, back, wings, and tail; the belly, rump, several spots on the wings, and three outer tail-feathers, white; rose-colored breast and wing-linings; bill white and very heavy.

Female:  streaked brownish above and below, without any rosy color, but orange-yellow under the wings; she looks like an overgrown Sparrow with a swelled face.

A Summer Citizen of the eastern United States from Kansas and the Carolina mountains to Canada, travelling south of the United States in winter.

A Tree Trapper, Ground Gleaner, Weed Warrior, and Seed Sower.  Rather naughty once in a while about picking tree-buds, but on the whole a good neighbor.

THE INDIGO BIRD

(THE BLUE CANARY)

“Blue birds and blue flowers are both rare; you can count our really blue birds on the fingers of one hand, and a Blue Canary is even stranger than a green rose or a black tulip.