MADAM TRIES THE NEST. 1 



neighborhood a chance to satisfy its curiosity; 

 as if they thus proclaimed to whom it might con- 

 cern that there was to be a kingbird househokl, 

 that they might view it at their leisure before 

 it was occupied, but after that no guests were 

 desired. Whatever the cause, the fact is, that 

 once completed, the nest was almost entirely 

 abandoned by the builders for several days, dur- 

 ing which this neighborhood inspection went on. 

 They even deserted their usual hunting-ground, 

 and might generally be seen at the back of the 

 house, awaiting their prey in the most uncon- 

 cerned manner. 



However, time was passing, and one day Ma- 

 dame Tyrannis herself began to call, but fitfully. 

 Sometimes she stayed about the nest one min- 

 ute, sometimes five minutes, but was restless; 

 picking at the walls, twitching the leaves that 

 hung too near, rearranging the lining, trying it 

 this way and that, as if to see how it fitted her 

 figure, and how she should like it when she was 

 settled. First she tried sitting with face look- 

 ing toward the bay; then she jerked herself 

 around, without rising, and looked awhile toward 

 the house. She had as much trouble to get mat- 

 ters adjusted to her mind as if she had a house- 

 ful of furniture to place, with carpets to lay, 

 curtains to hang, and the thousand and one 

 "things" with which we bigger housekeepers 



