BALTIMORE ORIOLE, OR GOLDEN ROBIN. 159 



saluted with her usual scolding 'tslier, ^tslirr, 'tslirr, 

 seeing no reason, probably, why she should be interrupt- 

 ed in her indispensable occupation. 



Though the males were now comparatively silent on the 

 arrival of their busy mates, I could not help observing 

 this female, and a second, continually vociferating, ap- 

 parently in strife. At last, she was observed to attack 

 this second female very fiercely, who slyly intruded her- 

 self at times into the same tree where she was building. 

 These contests were angry and often repeated. To ac- 

 count for this animosity, I now recollected, that tioo fine 

 males had been killed in our vicinity ; and I therefore 

 concluded the intruder to be left without a mate ; yet she 

 had gained the affection of the consort of the busy female, 

 and thus the cause of this jealous quarrel became appa- 

 rent. Having obtained the confidence of her faithless 

 paramour, the second female began preparing to weave a 

 nest in an adjoining Elm, by tying together certain pen- 

 dant twigs as a foundation. The male now associated 

 chiefly with the intruder whom he even assisted in her 

 labor, yet did not wholly forget his first partner, who call- 

 ed on him one evening in a low affectionate tone, which 

 was answered in the same strain. While they were thus 

 engaged in friendly whispers, suddenly appeared the ri- 

 val, and a violent rencontre ensued, so that one of the 

 females appeared to be greatly agitated, and flattered 

 with spreading wings as if considerably hurt. The male, 

 though prudently neutral in the contest, showed his cul- 

 pable partiality by flying off" with his paramour ; and for 

 the rest of the evening left the tree to his pugnacious 

 consort. Cares of another kind, more imperious and ten- 

 der, at length reconciled, or at least, terminated these 

 disputes with the jealous females ; and by the aid of the 

 neighbouring bachelors, who are never wanting among 



