50 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 
serve the regularity and concert of action which governs 
the movements of the splendidly uniformed birds. 
The redwings are among the earliest of our vernal visit- 
ors, and south of the Ohio River and Washington may be 
found all through the winter. Their lond and rollicking 
spring note is one of the most invigorating sounds in nature, 
and most typical of the reviving year. Conk-quirée! conk- 
quirée! sings out the male, as though he knew a good story 
if only he had a mind to tell it; and then adds chuck! as 
though he thonght it of no use to try to interest you in it, 
and that he had been indisereet in betraying an enthusiasm 
beneath his dignity over a matter beyond your appreciation. 
His plain brown mate immediately says chuck! too, quite 
agreeing with her lord and master that it is not best to 
waste their confidence upon yow. 
‘The centre of all their interest is the compact, tight bas- 
ket woven of wet grass-blades and split rush-leaves which is 
supported among the reeds or rests on a tussock of wire- 
grass surrounded by water. It is a model nest, and they 
understand so well the labor it cost that they are mightily 
jealous of harm coming to it. The eggs are five in num- 
- ber, of a faded blue tint, marbled, streaked and spotted 
with leather-color and black, in shape rather elongated and 
pointed. The fledglings are abroad about the Ist of June, 
