226 CITIZEN BIRD 



about Sparrows, and when I came to Chippy Sparrow 

 I was sure it matched ; for the book said it Avas a clever 

 little fellow with a jaunty red cap that came with his 

 mate to the very door and that children make the 

 Chippy's acquaintance and hunt in the vines on the 

 piazza or in a bush for its nest and that the nest is very 

 neat and made of horsehair — " Here Dodo stopped 

 to get her breath. 



" Bravo ! bravo I " called the Doctor. " I see that 

 I shall soon have to resign my place as Bird Man if 

 this young lady takes to bird hunting and reading also. 

 Is there more to come, little one ? " 



"Yes, Uncle Koy, just a little bit more. Because 

 the book said children looked for Chippies' nests I went 

 right away to see if I could find one. First I hunted 

 in all the bushes, and the Catbirds scolded me and the 

 Brown Thrasher in the barberry bush was very mad 

 and a Robin in the low crotch of the bell-pear tree 

 nearly tip[)ed his nest over, he flew away in such a 

 hurry. 1 thought I had better stop, but by this time 

 I was way down in the garden and all at once I saw 

 a Chippy fly straight into tlie big rose bush at the 

 beginning of our arbor. I looked in and there about 

 as high up as my chin was the loveliest little nest like 

 a nice grass cup, with pretty rosebuds all around it for 

 a trimming, and on it sat a Chippy — and do you know 

 it never flew away when I stroked its back with my 

 finger ! It was so cute and friendly I thought I would 

 give it a little mite of a kiss on top of its head. But 

 1 guess it misunderstood and thought I meant to bite, 

 for it flew off a little way and I saw three speckled 

 blue eggs and — then I thought I'd better come away.'' 



