WITH THE THICKET BIRDS 131 



constructing, in the willows at the east side of 

 the wood; next day another oriole nest came to 

 light. The grackles were responsible for this 

 discovery. In the morning a terrible rumpus 

 broke out in the tops of some poplars near at 

 hand, and there two black villains were found 

 with a pair of irate orioles attacking them. 

 The bright little warriors fairly shrieked with 

 anger or fear as they stormed one black inter- 

 loper, for beside him was the cause of it all — a 

 gray pocket-nest. The would-be robber was 

 helped out of there with a brickbat, and the dove 

 of peace once more came into the place, but 

 another nesting secret had been given up. 



The foregoing incident was but one of many 

 such squabbles. The grackles were bad neigh- 

 bors; in fact, had they known it, they had been 

 allowed to stay in the wood just on condition of 

 their good behavior. However, though their 

 conduct was not always just what might have 

 been desired, when four pairs of them were 

 hatching, it seemed too cruel a slaughter to oust 

 them, and they were allowed to remain. Also 

 it appeared to be a rare opportunity to study 

 these black-listed chaps at their best or worst. 

 From the very first, it was plain that their bird 



