July 



he extracts the delectable morsel. This opera- 

 tion is an undoubted pleasure to him and to the 

 spectator, and on a mercantile basis is to be 

 considered a fair bargain in the equivalence 

 of gratification and expense — the justice of the 

 argument being impaired only by the fact that, 

 while the gratification is mine, the blossoms 

 belong to some one else. 



I recall a very pretty but not unusual scene 

 one day enacted by the oriole. It was perched 

 on a limb overhanging a basin of water, and 

 from its frequent glances in that direction I sur- 

 mised it was going to take a bath. But it was 

 very much afraid of being observed, and ner- 

 vously turned its head and peered in all direc- 

 tions. Thinking the coast was clear, it at last 

 jumped down to the brink of the water, gave 

 another hasty glance all about, and then, shy as 

 VeuLis, jumped in, dipped its golden plumage 

 two or three times, stepped to the edge, and 

 with one more timid look, darted out of sight. 



Of the rich and variegated throng of warblers 

 that enlivened every bush and tree in May, but 

 few species remain, as they mostly prefer a 

 cooler climate or more seclusion than can be 



199 



