258 "THE WESTERN BLUEBIRD. 
but regularly, until the second brood were well matured. Instinct! Instinct! 
say you? But, wherefor? Is it not rather a foregleam of ethical life, an out- 
cropping of that altruistic tendency which hints a deeper kinship with the birds 
than we have yet confessed? 
And real gallantry between the sexes may not be less ethical. Ona day in 
Ohio, I located a Bluebird’s nest in the knot-hole of an apple tree, and planted 
the camera in a commanding and somewhat threatening position. The cavity 
held callow young, but after the parents had visited their charges once and 
were somewhat relieved in anxiety, I saw a very pretty passage which took 
place between them. In a neighboring apple tree the male secured an elegant 
fat grub and was most devoutly thrashing it, when the 
female appeared upon the scene. With a coaxing 
twitter she approached her mate; but he backed off, as 
much as to say, “Wait, wait, dear, he isn’t dead yet!” 
But she was hungry and pressed her suit, until he 
in good-natured impatience flitted across to another 
limb. Here he whacked the worm vigorously, striking 
him first against one side of the limb and then against 
the other by a swinging motion of the head. The 
female followed her lord and cooed: “Oh, I know that 
will taste good. Um! I hav’n’t tasted one of those 
white grubs for a week. So good of you, dearest! 
Really, don’t you think he is done now?” The valiant 
husband gave the luckless grub just one more whack; 
and then, with every appearance of satisfaction, he 
hopped over toward his better half and placed the 
morsel in her waiting beak, while she received the 
favor with quivering wings and a soft flood of tender 
Fee thanks. Altogether I think I never saw a prettier exhi- 
in bition of conjugal affection, gallantry, and genuine 
Spokane. altruism than the sight afforded. It was not only like 
Me: the behavior of humans; it was like the best in human 
F. S. life, a pattern rather than a copy, am inspiration to 
Merah, nobility and gentleness of the very highest type. 
Bluebirds have a decided preference for human 
society, or at least are very quick to appreciate the 
hospitality of proffered bird-boxes. Being chiefly insectivorous, their presence 
is a benediction to any neighborhood, and is an especial advantage in the 
orchard. A friend of mine in the East, who owns two young orchards and a 
small vineyard, maintains upon his premises upwards of fifty Bluebird boxes, 
each composed of a section of a hollow limb closed with a board at top and 
bottom, and provided with a neat augur-hole in the side. The boxes are made 
LITTLE BOY BLUE, 
