BIRDS AND STRAWBERRIES. 31 



are pushed out of their nest, and always fall to 

 the ground. 



And the authors of these fables were grown- 

 up, and had passed their lives among the mock- 

 ing-birds. I curbed my impatience, stayed an- 

 other week, and saw all the nestlings out, and 

 the nest deserted. 



Another charge also fell to the ground on 

 careful observation. The farmers complain — 

 as farmers are apt to complain of their best 

 friends, the birds — that the mocking-bird eats 

 strawberries. I set myself to watch a fine patch 

 full of ripe and tempting berries, several times 

 when no one was near. Many birds came about, 

 mocking-birds, crows, king-birds, orchard ori- 

 oles, and others. The mocking-birds ran down 

 between the rows of vines catching grasshop- 

 pers, the crows did the same service, walking 

 with dignity. The king-birds chased flies, the 

 orioles searched the fruit trees for insects. One 

 and all were working in the interest of the 

 strawberry grower. And while I watched, an 

 hour or more at a time, not even for dessert 

 after filling their stomachs with insects, did one 

 take a berry, which I am sure they might be 

 considered to have earned. 



I know one lady — would there were more 

 like her — who owns a garden on Long Island, 

 and when her gardener comes in and says some- 



