38 A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. 



the nest, hardly taught to feed themselves ; yet 

 the most sedate head of the household was no 

 more dignified and grown-up in manner than 

 was the youngest of them, for when he had cried 

 over his repast and descended to the fence I 

 could not tell him from Mamma herself. 



I soon discovered that this was no junketing 

 party ; all were on business bent. They might 

 look at me and they did, although I was not near 

 enough to disturb them ; but each and every one 

 kept at least one eye on the ground, where were 

 growing beans or some plant about three inches 

 high, and I 'm sure no small creature could stir 

 in that part of the world that one of those sharp 

 eyes did not light upon it. They were ten or 

 fifteen feet apart, so that each had his own share 

 of territory to overlook, and every few moments 

 one flew to the ground, seized something, and 

 returned at once to his j)lace, ready for another. 

 It was a wire fence, and they always selected the 

 wires instead of the posts to perch upon. Sit- 

 ting and never standing, their attitude expressed 

 the most charming serenity. 



While I stood watching, two of the youngsters 

 happened to pounce upon the same object, — a 

 worm it looked like, — and there was for a mo- 

 ment a spirited tug of war. Each held on to his 

 end, and resisted with cries the attempts of his 

 brother to deprive him of it. Doubtless the 



