Xbee Serial.read is not clearing buffer

I wrote a example program to test Serial read from xbee. I was expecting a message passed from transmitter to receiver every 5 sec's but in serial monitor of receiver I am observing a continuous stream of repeat messages. Can anyone what I am missing. FYI: Also attached link to serial monitor screenshot. [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/Lgxx5.png

/*  ~ Simple Arduino - xBee Transmitter sketch ~ Router
*/

int count = 0;

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
    //Send the message:
    count ++;
    Serial.println(String("Hello World : " + String(count)));
  delay(5000);
}

/*  ~ Simple Arduino - xBee Receiver sketch ~ Coordinator
*/

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  if (Serial.available() > 0){
    Serial.write(Serial.read());
  }
}

Figured out a work around to address the issue. Here are the details:

https://i.sstatic.net/3qZMi.png

Circuit connections from Arduino to XBEE Shield: 
D0/RX to TX
D1/TX to RX 
5V to 5V 
GND to GND 

/*  ~ Simple Arduino - xBee Transmitter sketch ~ Router
 */

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  //Send the message:
  Serial.print('<');
  Serial.print("Hello World");
  Serial.println('>');
  delay(1000);
}

/*  ~ Simple Arduino - xBee Receiver sketch ~ Coordinator
*/

bool started = false; //True: Message is strated
bool ended = false;   //True: Message is finished
byte index;           //Index of array

char character; //Variable to store the incoming byte
char msg[13];   //Message - array

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{

  while (Serial.available())
  {
    character = Serial.read();
    if (character == '<')
    {
      started = true;
      index = 0;
      msg[index] = '\0'; // Throw away any incomplete packet
    }

    //End the message when the '>' symbol is received
    else if (character == '>')
    {
      ended = true;
      break; // Done reading - exit from while loop!
    }

    //Read the message!
    else
    {
      if (index < 11)
      {                         // Make sure there is room
        msg[index] = character; // Add char to array
        index++;
        msg[index] = '\0'; // Add NULL to end
      }
    }
  }

  if (started && ended)
  {
    Serial.print("Message: ");
    Serial.println(msg);

    index = 0;
    msg[index] = '\0';
    started = false;
    ended = false;
  }
}