CROW BLACKBIRD. ao 
the conflict as suddenly as they came, a few only 
remaining to arbitrate matters. 
“The path from the house to the road divides 
the yard into equal parts. It was agreed that in 
future the blackbirds should keep on the north 
side, and the robins on the south side of this path. 
Peace and quiet reigned the rest of the day, all 
parties being too exhausted to resume the struggle 
even if they had not been in honor bound to re- 
spect the treaty. But do not fancy that the feud 
was forgotten. By no means. The sleek black- 
coated, dapper young gentleman, conscious of hay- 
ing won the victory, inasmuch as he had not been 
dislodged from his position, allowed no oppor- 
tunity to pass in which he might show his con- 
tempt for or exult over his plainly-dressed and 
comparatively inelegant neighbors. 
“¢ When the nest-building commenced, our gay 
chevalier complacently permitted his meek little 
wife to perform the main part of the labor, while 
he would perch himself on a limb as near the di- 
viding line as possible and taunt or ridicule his 
opponents, whom family cares alone prevented 
from reciprocating the compliments — the will 
and desire were strong enough. Sometimes he 
would examine the nest to see how the work pro- 
eressed, and occasionally he condescended to pick 
up a straw and fly with it to a tree near by, and 
sit there with it in his mouth with a wonderfully 
self-satisfied air, yet never offering it to his mate. 
