92 WHIMSICAL WAYS IN BIRD-LAND. 



gle, and doubtless the remarks so glibly poured 

 out were sarcastic or exultant over my failure ; 

 for though I walked the whole length, and at 

 every step peered into the bushes, no nest could 

 I discover. 



Somewhat later I made the acquaintance of 

 the domestic partner of the chat family. She 

 was less talkative than her spouse, as are most 

 feathered dames — a wise arrangement in the 

 bird-world, for what would become of the nest 

 and nestlings, if the home-keepers had as much 

 to say as their mates ? She sat calmly on the 

 fence, as I passed, or dressed her plumage on 

 the branch of a tree, uttering no sound except, 

 rarely, the common mewing call. She w^as a wise 

 little thing, too. When I caught her carrying a 

 locust, and at once concluded she had young to 

 feed, as quickly as if she had read my thoughts 

 she let her prey drop, looking at me, as who 

 should say, " You see I am not carrying food." 

 But though I admired her quick wit and re- 

 spected her motive, I did not believe the little 

 mother, and despite the attractiveness of the 

 head of the household I kept close watch upon 

 her, hoping to track her home. I soon observed 

 that she always rose from the tangle at one spot 

 near the elm ; but vainly did I creep through 

 what once might have been a path between the 

 blackberries, though I did have the satisfaction 



