forth his proud nictaUic notes, drops down iiiKj tlie diickcn yard, disappears in 

 the pij( pen, mockingly scolds at you, sings again, and is wilHng to keep this game 

 up all day. We do not know which to admire more, his beautiful song or his 

 confidence in man. 



The height of these actions is reached at the mating season, for he is the 

 bird that makes life sweet about the old log cabins, deserted woodpiles and half- 

 destroyed orchards. Almost any place in the neighi)orhood of man is chosen 

 for a nesting site. The arm-pit of an old coat, old tin and coffee cups, log cabin 

 nooks and corners, often contain his nest. This is rather bulky, composed of 

 sticks, grass, wool, horse and cow hairs, quail and chicken feathers, snake skins 

 and other rubbish. From four to eleven eggs are found in it in April and 

 again in June. They are white with various spots of lilac-gray and brown, and 

 my observations lead me to the belief that the eggs of the older birds are more 

 heavily spotted than those of the young ones, and the spots are also better dis- 

 tributed over the entire surface of the eggs, while those of younger birds show 

 more minute spots, and these generally in a wreath around the blunt end of the 

 egg. In about two weeks the eggs arc hatched and a jolly crowd of youngsters 

 soon joins the parents in their insect-hunt, and the next year we have the pleasure 

 of hearing still oftener this bold, bright songster in his native haunts. May 

 the Bewick Wren live and thrive forever in the rugged hills of southern Ohio, to 

 bring joy and cheerfulness to the hearts of men! 



The Robin's Counsel 



By Millie Noel Long 



Through a wilderness of doubt, 

 Fears within and foes without, 

 Comes the robins thrilling shout, 



"Cheer ye ! cheer ye ! 



Hear me ! hear me ! 



"I have traveled fast and far, 



I have braved the storm-cloud's power, 



Met new dangers every hour, — 



Cheer ye ! cheer ye ! 



Hear ye ! hear ye ! 



"Kept by God's almighty power, 



Heeding duty every hour. 



There's no time to fret and glower, — - 



Hear ye ! hear ye ! 



Cheer ye ! cheer ye !" 



807 



