He searches for insects and larvæ, and little can escape his big bright eyes. When he takes something to his mate, he gives a soft, low, glad chirp. He never passes the door of the nest-hole without putting in his head, to make a few cheerful remarks. He seems to be telling the news. When the mother-bird flies out, to have a chance to find food for herself, her mate keeps calling her, as if to say, “Are you quite safe?” “Are you there?” And she replies with a little note of joy. The nuthatch finds most of his food under the bark of trees. He flies round and round the tree and strips off pieces of bark. Hidden there, he finds worms, spiders, caterpillars, eggs and larvæ of insects. He seems very curious, and pries into every crack and hole. The nuthatch seldom migrates. If food is scarce, he will fly to the barns, and even pick up seeds with the fowls. But he does not like that food. He prefers insects. Another bird that feeds chiefly on insects, is, in many respects, the loveliest and dearest of birds. Can you not guess that I mean the bluebird? This bird, with its blue back and wings, and ruddy breast is the first to tell us of the return of spring. On warm days in February, or early March, we see him flitting above the last melting wreaths of snow, or sitting on the top rail of the fence. If a few cold snowy days come, he vanishes. But back he flies with his mate, and they skim low over the ground to pick up the first beetles, worms, and spiders that venture out. For a few days the two are very busy eating insects. If Mr. Bluebird finds a very nice, fat bug, he does not keep it for himself, but flies with it to his mate. He gives a glad cry, spreads his wings wide, and drops it into her mouth. But soon the pair set about cleaning and rebuilding last year’s nest. If there is a box on a tree in your garden or orchard, or a hole in a branch, they will build there year after year. While the bluebirds are busy setting their house in order, Mrs. House-Wren gets back from her winter trip. She peeps in, and seems much vexed that such a nice house was let before she arrived. As soon as the bluebirds go off, for some more grass, or hairs, Mrs. Wren steps in, and pulls a few twigs out of the new nest. She does this to show her feelings. But she hurries away, before the blue owners return. Mrs. Bluebird puts five or six pale blue eggs in her nest. She raises two, or even three, broods in a summer. While she is sitting on the second eggs, the father bird watches over the young of the first brood. He feeds them, and takes great care of them, and lets them perch by him at night. Now and then, in the autumn, you will see a pair of old bluebirds with ten or twelve young ones, of their various broods. Then they may be feeding on gum-tree or smilax berries. But spiders and beetles are their chosen food.