VULGAR BROILS. 137 



extremely grotesque, and was continued several 

 minutes, while I eagerly watched to see what 

 would happen next. What did happen was 

 entirely unexpected, a unique anti-climax, quite 

 worthy of the undignified character of the bird. 

 On a sudden, as by one consent, both flew oppo- 

 site ways; both alighted in low trees about 

 thirty feet apart, and each one sang a loud joy- 

 ous song, as of victory ! 



In this turbulent way life went on for two 

 or three weeks ; I could not tell how long, for it 

 was in full progress when I came. There was 

 always a vulgar broil, often a furious encounter, 

 stopping just short of coming to blows, and it 

 seemed really doubtful if the orioles would suc- 

 ceed in settling their matrimonial affairs before 

 summer. The third member of the belligerent 

 party, the demure little object of all this agita- 

 tion, was meekness and gentleness itself, never 

 aggressive, but always flying before the furious 

 onslaught of her would-be spouse. Why then 

 did she not select her mate and thus end the 

 trouble, which, according to the books, it must 

 do? 



Turning away from the more conspicuous 

 males with their endless contests, and watching 

 her closely, I saw that she was trying her best 

 to do so. She plainly preferred the younger 

 and less quarrelsome suitor, and often followed 



