188 THE BIRD OF THE STREET. 



In this absurd style he hopped about the tree, 

 calling and scolding and making noise enough 

 for half a dozen birds. Now and then he made 

 a dive for a little one who came too near, but 

 most of the time he contented himself with 

 bluster and a general state of protest against 

 their impertinence. 



As for the youngsters, they were not in the 

 least alarmed ; they hopped about, and ate and 

 squabbled within a foot of irate papa. If he 

 rushed at one, the pursued simply flew to the 

 other side of the tree. Evidently his threats 

 were not at all terrifying. It was most curious 

 to see, because a moment's serious attack would 

 frighten one of those little ones out of sight. 

 It was plainly evident that he wanted to drive 

 them away (probably to make room for an- 

 other brood, since it was early), yet, after all, 

 he was proud of their pluck and spirit, and he 

 could not resist a lurking tenderness for them. 



Still, he kept up the appearance of hostility. 

 Now and then he ran madly down a branch as 

 though about to annihilate somebody, but no 

 one happening to be there, no one was hurt. 

 When one infant did fly before him, he invari- 

 ably stretched his neck to watch the flight, ap- 

 parently to see if the little one arrived safely. 

 It was most interesting to see the struggle be- 

 tween the fond parent and the inexorable judge 

 determined to drive them away. 



