106 DISAGREEMENT IN THE FAMILY. 



not at all in a singing tone, like the usual 

 warble or call. I have also heard it from wild 

 bluebirds, when I could get near enough. From 

 the first, as said above, the male did most of 

 the talking, and the habit grew upon him, till 

 he became a regular babbler, standing on the 

 top perch, and keeping it up persistently all 

 day long. I think it arose from the fact that 

 the greater number of birds in the room were 

 thrushes, who sang very softly, without open- 

 ing the mouth. With this gentle ripple of 

 song the bluebird's voice harmonized perfectly, 

 and he almost entirely discontinued his lovely 

 song, while indulging himself in talk by the 

 hour. Strange to say, I soon noticed that his 

 mate did not approve of it, and would not 

 stand on the perch beside him while he con- 

 tinued it. At first she turned sharply towards 

 him, and he showed that he understood her 

 wishes by ceasing for a while ; but as the habit 

 grew, and he was not so easily silenced, she 

 more and more deserted his side, and after two 

 or three weeks I heard occasionally a gentle re- 

 monstrance from her. I do not believe a really 

 harsh tone can come from a bluebird throat. 

 One day they were taking their usual midday 

 nap on the same perch, when a thrush across 

 the window began his low song. That started 

 the bluebird, and he added his chatter, which 



