92 THE BLUE J AY BABY. 



my sight, and she disappeared behind a thick 

 branch. 



In a moment I heard the cry of a bird I could 

 not see. So also did the twins on the tree, and 

 to them it meant somebody being fed; they 

 lifted their little wings, spread out like fans 

 their short beautiful tails, and by help of both, 

 half hopped, half flew through the branches to 

 the other side. 



I followed, by the roundabout way again, and 

 then I saw another one. Three bonny bairns in 

 blue were on that dead spruce tree; two close 

 together as before, and the third — who seemed 

 more lively — sitting alone. He lifted his crest 

 a little, turned his head and looked squarely at 

 me, but seeing nothing to alarm him — wise lit- 

 tle jay ! — did not move. Then again mamma 

 came forward, and remonstrated and protested, 

 but only by her one argument, a squawk. 



I quietly sat down and tried to make myself 

 as much a part of the bank as possible, for I 

 wanted the distracted dame in blue to go on with 

 her household duties, and feed those babies. 

 After a while she did calm down a little, though 

 she kept one distrustful eye on me, and now and 

 then came near and delivered a squawk at me, 

 as if to assure me that she saw through my 

 manoeuvres, and despised them. 



But I cared not at that moment for her opin- 



