TWO LITTLE BIRDS 151 



came up and made as if to show off her dainty chestnut 

 plumage. This so angered the first hen that she attacked 

 her rival. A duel then took place between the two little 

 birds. It was not of long duration, for the second hen 

 soon discovered that she was no match for the first, 

 and deeming discretion to be the better part of 

 valour, she flew away and left the orchard before she 

 sustained any injury. Then the triumphant hen, flushed 

 with victory, went up to the cock and said, " See what I 

 have done for love of thee. I have driven away my rival. 

 Wed me, I pray, for I am worthy of thee. Behold how 

 beautiful I am." The cock looked at her as she stood 

 there spreading her chestnut wings and saw that she 

 was fair to gaze upon. He then fluttered his snowy 

 pinions and sang a sweet little warble, which is the way 

 a cock bird tells the lady of his choice that he loves her. 



For the next few days these little birds led an idyllic 

 existence. Free from care and anxiety, they disported 

 themselves in that shady grove, now playing hide-and- 

 seek among the foliage, now making graceful sweeps 

 after their insect quarry, now pouring out the fulness of 

 their love — the cock in sweet song and mellow warble, 

 the hen in her peculiar twittering note. Their happiness 

 was complete ; never did the shadow of a cloud mar the 

 sunshine of their springtime. 



One day they were simultaneously seized by the im- 

 pulse to build a nest. First a suitable site had to be 

 chosen. After much searching and anxious consultation, 

 mingled with love-making, they agreed upon the branch 

 of a pear tree, some eight feet above the ground. During 

 the whole of the following week they were busy seeking 



