116 ''UPON THE tree-top:' 



the oriole. He pursued the same tactics that 

 the kingbird does, flying above the enemy and 

 pouncing upon the back of his head or neck. 

 The crow flew over the orchard, accompanied 

 all the way by his plucky little assailant, while 

 the first crow remained on the perch and en- 

 couraged his comrade till both were out of 

 sight, when he also took wing and followed. 

 They were out of sight certainly, but not out 

 of hearing, for the cry of the oriole and the 

 caw of the crow came to us for half an hour, 

 growing more and more distant, ho^^ever, till I 

 began to fear that unlucky oriole would be 

 completely exhausted, or possibly dispatched — 

 which would have been easy enough if the two 

 crows had combined, for he was utterly reck- 

 less in his attack. Just as I was becoming 

 anxious, for the sounds had ceased, I heard a 

 joyous song of triumph, and there he was ! — 

 in the old spot, looking as fresh and gay as if 

 he had not come from a battle-field. Upon his 

 cry, the little spouse came out of the nest, and 

 responded with a few notes, evidently praise of 

 his bravery, for he fidgeted about in a self-con- 

 scious way, bowed his head, flirted his wings, 

 and manifested great excitement for some time. 

 But though driven away, the crows were not 

 conquered, and the next morning I was wa« 

 kened by the voice of a crow so very near that 



