A BIRD BABY SHOW. 175 



in his best moods — in an exquisite trill that 

 resembled the silver bell of the chewink. The 

 family spent their time in the road or the 

 meadow, the mother working hard to supply the 

 hungry little mouths, which gave vent to queer 

 whining cries. One day when it was raining 

 the mother and one infant were out on the usual 

 business, when suddenly they became aware of 

 a chij)munk about eighteen inches from them, 

 and at the same instant he saw them. He sat 

 up very erect to look over the grass, and, hold- 

 ing his funny little hands over his heart, stared 

 at the pair as if he had never seen birds. The 

 baby sparrow flew a foot or two, but the elder 

 ran toward him most valiantly, upon which the 

 brave chipmunk took to his heels, scrambled up 

 the stone wall, and disappeared. 



Before the window, too, were always the swal- 

 lows, for the telegraph wire was a favorite perch. 

 And after the young were out, there was every 

 day a baby show, the eave and tree swallows 

 having adopted the wires as their out-of-door 

 nursery. Nearly all the time might be seen 

 half a dozen or more waiting patiently for a 

 morsel from some of their elders circling about 

 over their heads, and such a chatter as they 

 kept up ! They whispered softly among them- 

 selves when their parents were away, and called 

 in squeaky little voices with fluttering wings as 



