, 1874-05-03
it will make Its abode in the hollow Of decaying
tree, stump. or post, or eTen in shelteEing

49,
J nook under the caves.
Tho Bluo-bird has no great reputation rs q
singer In fact, it cannot be said to sing at all.
1t only MARBLES talk; but this it does with the
most delicious voice. mellow and sweet. Its
range OF key is slight, limited almost to mono
tone; and yet there Is such diversity OF lnfec-
tion that = trained ear can easily understand the
drift Of its meaning. know instantly when the
will bulld their tones so brim over with content.
AS they hurry to and fro, bunting atraws and
hairs, and weaving them into their babies
cradle, there ia an inceesant prattle between
them. Question, answer, hint, counsel; it
ia the tenderest and busiest conversation, for
hours together, you ever listened to- All those
are halcyon days-the sweetest OF The biz ds' life.
The burdens OF matrimony have not come yet,
only it's delights, and there is not cloud to
shadow their sunshine. After the nestlings have
once opened their bills, there is gravor cast in
the Dlue-Birds tone, and wearness often, from
the perpetual though patient, labor Of filling
hungry mouths.
For all tho Blue Bird Seems 30 mild and gen.
tie, he knows how to show fight when there is
OCCASION. He is not quarrelsome in disposition
and does not NEEDLE with other species: but, let
one of his own Kind rival him in his claim to 3
box or mate, and he is ready for the ugiest
sort or g battle- was sitting ono April after
noon absorbed in book, when there broke into
my quiet confused tumult Of brd-voices. l
Was too busy to note it much ut frat, but for an
hour or two was dimly conscious that the riot
continued. At last dropped the book
and ran to see what the strange disturbance
BODIED. There, under the Blue-bird box, we're
two male birds engaged in fierce hand-to-hAnd
contest, while their mates sat on the fence near
by, and screamed and applauded the best they
knew watched the conflict for time in utter
amazement It was savage as dog-fght. Not
a moments cessation; no drawing of; no let
ting go; but bcak to beak. and claw to claw, the
pEgilists pitched the blows at each other in 3
terrific hurricane. There uaa no sign Of the
the other to the earth, and rain down the swift,
sharp hits until the featherB few in every di-
rcctlou.
They wero too blindly mad to mind my pres
ence and repeatedly came so near az to take
up both in my hand. Several times I car
ried one into The house. and kept it there awhile.
Fear was impoteut to subdue its choleric mood,
aud, tho moment it Was freed, it plunged at its
opponent as desperate as ever. Up to uightfan
the f1ay continued, and at daybreak was re-
before either Of the birds would acknowledge it.
self whipped and then ouo> summoned its mate
aud abandoned the hard-fought field. I have
Witnessed frequent conbats between Blue Birds,
before and slnce, but never one anything like go
furious.
A few years ago, there was stern strife over
our Dlue-Bird box, that ended very sadly for its
rightful inhabitants. vagrant House-Wren-
the mos. aggressive OF birds-strolled into the
neighborhood ole day. and caught eight OF the
for fha Honea- Wren l;ta the f}lne-Rirt1 alvava
chooses some hole, Or box, Or pocket, for its
;a1'aJ tba- nast snd nunoharea IN thar f;va a1na
;n Il II ves to M nnrnose. The Wren sat Ria
iswioa. haart m tha ho1 and was daferm,nej to
hsvo Il Ta mado rhort oY driv;nc o1,t tna own-
srs rho wora on;cklv snbdnni hv = bird that
uo,a ~ everr 4aather lie stamn n tVrant md
r.rscer. 1'N ~'10 -''''1'S
Wifi, = tor,ent Of shouta tbe Wren .;pnalad
h,a r;otorv nercb;no n the door ~ the nsnrned
l..1,;n1 nna i ,,onr;nc ort rcsna IN . neTfcct
food.1i5ea from his s1Rolian md n,ivar;pe afr-
n;nes T}ben ha feii to rif1;nr tho hn1 of ita
rpa,e,ts toa-;n, 10 the raat md tbrow;,o ont
10 hrnsan .halis For three ~ fonr dave f,eTo-
sItsr a Ient htrnscif hnsr tuno;ne in ne 1ttIe
tMira 1J rb;ch he nsea ia hn')dins his nest nnt
ho t,sd near1r t;ifeI tho ho1 and obstructed tha
nn+rsncs r And ~ mats fo;ned him. md Io
trad'ai1r -a1aIa5 49, ba 1ohora md v.ndcrad awar
f. o,her ree;ons .nnarcntly sat;sf;ed With har.
~ roroh, 1rcffad ,,iaca of miechiaf frnm the
,uH ,,,!rs 1oat;ce ~ tha tnp 7. is trcE tho