202 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



the middle ages. One would suppose, to speak 

 plirenologically, that our good ancestors must 

 have had the organ of " destructiveness" very 

 largely developed. 



Here is a fable in which the bittern is 

 concerned. It is from the pen of Theodore 

 Tliinker, one of the principal writers for the 

 '•Youth's Cabinet." It teaches a good moral. 

 Please to bear it in mind, and try to profit 

 by it: 



THE DISCONTENTED BITTERN. 



A Bittern was dissatisfied with his condition. 

 He did not love to be living in swamps, and 

 eating all manner of reptiles. He wanted to 

 live in the orchard like the robin, and be a 

 favorite with every body. " Bitterns can sing 

 as well as robins," said he; "and I have no 

 notion of being confined to a marsh, and catch- 

 ing fever and ague all my days." So he started 

 for the orchard, partly flying and partly run- 

 ning at full speed, and determined to build 

 him a house like the robin, on an apple tree. 

 He was engaged in this business the next day, 

 when some one from the cottage near by, saw 

 him, and shot him, so that his wing was 

 broken. Then he was glad to hobble back to 



