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It was more than a "scrimmage." Much scream- 

 ing and shrill alarms, it is true, but blows were 

 freely dealt, and the king-birds were worsted. 

 Then what a song of victory on the oriole's part ! 

 I thought I knew its vocal powers well. It has 

 often roused me from coveted sleep in the early 

 morning, but to-day it would have waked the 

 seven sleepers had they been in the township. This 

 before sunrise, and I hoped the battle had been a 

 decisive one, but it proved not, and many equally 

 voluble and sanguinary were fought throughout 

 the day. Perhaps not sanguinary, but feathers 

 flew, if no blood was spilt. 



Troubles of this kind among nesting birds are 

 not usual. Widely different species are amicably 

 disposed, so far as my observation goes, while nest 

 building proceeds. In the lane, lined with old ap- 

 ple-trees and maples, there are now nesting the 

 great crested flycatcher, the robin, the house-wren, 

 the chipping sparrow, the cat-bird, the warbling 

 vireo, the purple grakle and English sparrow; 

 while in a brush-heap very near are a pair of brown 

 thrushes, and an indigo finch has located in a black- 

 berry brier. These birds are constantly associated, 

 and I have not seen the slightest evidence of a con- 

 flict of interests. Other birds, nesting in the near- 

 by woods, are continually coming and going, and 

 there is seldom a moment when some one, two, or 

 three are not singing, but none appear to scold or 

 even utter an alarm note. 

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