For the first time, too, I had an experience of the caprices of migrating warblers. The blackpolls and pine-warblers, so numerous last year, had evidently chosen another route to the tropics, nor were the magnolia and the chestnut-sided to be seen. But the Cape May warblers, usually rare, were very numerous, and remained long--from September 20 to October 18. This might probably be explained by the abundant supply of food, for the unusual warmth of the season had not only awakened the fruit trees and lilacs, the kalmia and other wild flowers, to a second period of blooming, but had filled the air with immense swarms of tiny insects. Everywhere glittered and danced myriads of winged creatures, and the trees offered a plentiful table for our insect-loving warblers. [Illustration: BLACK SQUIRREL. 5/13 Life-size. FROM COL F. NUSBBAUMER & SON. A. W. MUMFORD, PUBLISHER, CHICAGO. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY NATURE STUDY PUB. CO., CHICAGO.] THE BLACK SQUIRREL. (_Sciurus niger._) Mrs Black Squirrel sat in the top of a tree; "I believe in the habit of saving," said she; "If it were not for that, in the cold winter weather I should starve, and my young ones, I know, altogether; But I'm teaching my children to run and lay up Every acorn as soon as it drops from the cup, And to get out the corn from the shocks in the field-- There's a nice hollow tree where I keep it concealed. We have laid up some wheat and some barley and rye, And some very nice pumpkin seeds I have put by; Best of all, we have gathered, in all that we could Of beechnuts and butternuts grown in the wood; For cold days and hard times winter surely will bring, And a habit of saving's an excellent thing. "But my children--you know how young squirrels like play-- 'We have plenty, great plenty, already,' they'll say. 'We are tired of bringing in food for our store; Let us all have a frolic and gather no more!' But I tell them it's pleasant when winter is rough, If we feel both to use and to give we've enough; And they'll find ere the butternuts bloom in the spring That a habit of saving's an excellent thing."