188 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 
on her wings, and that does not come into the 
name at all. Talk about woman’s wrongs! And 
the poor little things cannot even apply to the 
legislature for a change of name ! 
You do not blame them for nesting in the 
mountains and the seclusion of northern woods, 
to get away from the scientists who so ignore their 
individuality. For in this case it is not their 
mates who are at fault. They are as pleasing, in- 
offensive birds as any in the warbler family, and 
go about singing their z-ce guttural a 
as they hunt over the twigs and 6 & ¥ 
branches, without the slightest assumption of con- 
jugal authority. 
Indeed, I saw one last August suing very hum- 
bly for his little lady’s favor. She was either out of 
temper, or else inclined to coquette with him. He 
would fly to her side in a prettily gentle, unobtru- 
sive way, but she would not even sit on the same 
branch with him. Off she would go to the next 
tree. And he would meekly follow after! 
The blue-back has a pretty way of turning up 
his head for a look before he flies to the branch 
above him, or clambering about by the help of a 
stem here, or the side of a sapling there, for, as 
Mr. Burroughs says, he is not a gymnast. He is 
a winning, trustful little bird, and will often stop 
his work as you come by, to look at you. 
