252 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it go, and have known it ever since. When it returns in the 

 spring it always brings a mate, who side-steps from me for a 

 few days ; but this old pet comes almost up to me, fearless, but 

 not any more to my hand. Well, I will tell you what this cat- 

 bird did when he found the gingerbread. If there is a magistrate 

 here, or other person authorized to administer oaths, I am ready 

 to make affidavit. He just took one bite, then hopped up on 

 to the perch and sang me a song, rather a short one but very 

 sweet ; after which he grabbed as big a chunk of the gingerbread 

 as he could carry and away he went, through the air, up the hill- 

 side among the brush, to announce the find to his mate and their 

 nestlings. After that when declining cake for myself, as I usual- 



Oliver Gibbs in strawberry lime. 



ly do at our own table, I made a practice of reserving the piece 

 offered to me and carrying it out to the birds. I wish I could 

 report unvarying acquiescence in this by the mistress of the 

 house, but the truth of history must not be compromised. It 

 was not safe to leave a plate of cake within my reach in "Mother 

 Hubbard's cupboard" the rest of the summer. 



In the spring and summer, and till all the birds had brought 

 out their nestlings, there was much waiting of the weaker species 

 for the strong to feed. (This I hope to prevent hereafter by 

 having a specially contrived table for the smaller birds). But 

 we did not notice any quarreling about it. Later in the season 

 they all ate together, pell-mell and higgledy-piggledy, a real 



