100 A BLUEBIRD TRAGEDY. 



about seventy feet above the ground. The 

 opening was in the lower side of the sloping 

 branch, making it very easy for a nestling to 

 fall out, and that is what I think happened the 

 day before the little scene above described. 



Hearing cries of distress from the pine 

 grove, I hastened down to see if I could be of 

 any assistance. Both bluebirds were on a low 

 tree, about a foot apart, uttering constantly 

 the mournful notes I had heard. Evidently a 

 tragedy of some sort had occurred, and I thought 

 at once of a falling little one. I looked carefully 

 around the tree while the parents came down 

 near me, much disturbed. I found nothing, but 

 a gale was blowing and a little bird might 

 easily have been driven far away. It was a 

 serious matter plainly, for the cries went on 

 without intermission the rest of the day. 



During that time I saw a curious and inter- 

 esting attempt at consolation on the part of the 

 male. He flew away, and returned in a few 

 moments with something in his beak. Alight- 

 ing near his mate, he began a low, tender 

 twitter, at the same time offering the morsel to 

 her. She moved a few inches away ; he fol- 

 lowed, still coaxing. She flew to another 

 branch, refusing to look at it. He followed, 

 still asking her to accept it. At last she flew 

 away, and he seemed astounded, stood as if he 



