120 BIRDS'-NESTS. 



The hen, I took it, was in the market for the second 

 time that season ; but the cock, from his bright, un- 

 faded plumage, looked like a new arrivaj. The hen 

 resented every advance of the male. In vain he 

 strutted around her and displayed his fine feathers ; 

 every now and then she would make at him in a 

 most spiteful manner. He followed her to the 

 ground, poured into her ear a fine, half-suppressed 

 warble, offered her a worm, flew back to the tree 

 figain with a great spread of plumage, hopped around 

 her on the branches, chirruped, chattered, flew gal- 

 lantly at an intruder, and was back in an instant 

 at her side. No use, — she cut him short at every 

 turn. 



The denouement I cannnot relate, as the artful bird, 

 followed by her ardent suitor, soon flew away beyond 

 my sight. It may not be rash to conclude, however, 

 that she held out no longer than was prudent. 



On the whole, there seems to be a system of 

 Women's Rights prevailing ^mong the birds, which, 

 contemplated from the stand-point of the male, is 

 quite admirable. In almost all cases of joint inter 

 est, the female bird is the most active. She deter- 

 mines the site of the nest, and is usually the most 

 absorbed in its construction. Generally, she is more 

 vigilant in caring for the young, and manifests the 

 most concern when danger threatens. Hour after 

 Hour I have seen the mother of a brood of blue 

 grossbeaks pass from the nearest meadow to the tree 

 ^hat held her nest, with a cricket or grasshopper ir 



