quiet till done. It is one of the sweetest little
lullaby-like strains. One day I saw him in the rose bush just near
voluntarily expand the plumage of his crown and show the brilliant
golden-ruby feathers beneath. Usually they are mostly concealed. It was
a rare treat, and visible to me only because of my rather exalted view.
He generally reserves this display for his mate, but he was here among
some Snow-birds and Tree Sparrows, and seemed to be trying to make these
plain folks envious of the pretty feathers in his hat."

These wonderfully dainty little birds are of great value to the farmer
and the fruit grower, doing good work among all classes of fruit trees
by killing grubs and larvae. In spite of their value in this respect,
they have been, in common with many other attractive birds, recklessly
killed for millinery purposes.

It is curious to see these busy wanderers, who are always cheery and
sociable, come prying and peering about the fruit trees, examining every
little nook of possible concealment with the greatest interest. They do
not stay long after November, and return again in April.

The nest of this Kinglet is rarely seen. It is of matted hair, feathers,
moss, etc., bulky, round, and partly hanging. Until recently the eggs
were unknown. They are of a dirty cream-white, deepening at larger end
to form a ring, some specimens being spotted.

Mr. Nehrling, who has heard this Kinglet sing in central Wisconsin
and northern Illinois, speaks of the "power, purity, and volume of
the notes, their faultless modulation and long continuance," and
Dr. Elliott Coues says of it: "The Kinglet's exquisite vocalization
defies description." Dr. Brewer says that its song is clear, resonant,
and high, a prolonged series, varying from the lowest tones to the
highest, and terminating with the latter. It may be heard at quite a
distance, and in some respects bears more resemblance to the song of
the English Sky-lark than to that of the Canary, to which Mr. Audubon
compares it.

[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.
Copyrighted by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]

THE MOURNING DOVE.

DEAR YOUNG BIRD LOVERS:

Most every person thinks that, while my actions are very pretty and
attractive, and speak much in my favor, I can only really say, _Coo-o,
Coo-o_, which they also think does not mean anything at all. Well, I
just thought I would undeceive them