FREAKS OF BACHELORS AND BENEDICTS.  g5 
especially since it shghtly “ forces the season,” and he 
might become generally the emblem of love as well 
as of wisdom. It might be unkind to imply that his 
great folly at this period has any bearing on the sug- 
gested change, except that the clownlike antics of 
both himself and mate while under the tender influ- 
ence tend to impair their reputation for dignity and 
wise demeanor. 
It is likely that with those winter birds that stay 
with us, pairing is often the resuit of mere associa- 
tion ; but there is never just simply “an understand- 
ing.” So far as the author’s observations go, there is 
always a distinct event, when he asks for her heart by 
some special expression, and he speaks, in some way, 
of the wealth of beauty and devotion he has to offer. 
This period may last for only a moment, as exhib- 
ited by jays and others, or it may be a matter of 
philandering for days, as the flickers, already noted, 
often exhibit. It is certain also that there are some 
long engagements among the birds, or long sieges of 
charming at any rate. Nearly all put on their wed- 
ding suits, and many exhibit the tactics of love long 
before the housekeeping begins. Our little American 
goldfinch or thistle bird (sometimes called ‘ wild cana- 
ry”) dons his beautiful lemon-yellow suit early in 
spring, and sings charmingly of all that he hopes, but 
that more somber sweetheart of his does not name the 
day till somewhere near July. She is waiting till the 
thistle down is right to line her home to the proper 
tint, and she has her ideas about the color proprieties 
of the wedding as well as its other sentiments, 
