228 



THE BLUEBIRD. 



invariably address each other as dear or dearie, and they have a host of un- 

 translatable tones of endearment beside. 



These gentle spirits are, however, best not aroused by an outsider. In 

 securing his personal rights or in defending his home, Bluebird is always brave 

 and sometimes pugnacious to a degree. Indeed it is to be feared that when 

 it comes to a question of property rights, he is not always kind. The annals 

 of bird-lore are full of accounts of spirited encounters between luckless Wrens, 

 Martins, Woodpeckers, etc., and Bluebird. Here is one of them by Dr. How- 

 ard Jones, of Circleville : "Some years ago I placed a bird box upon the 

 house-top, which for a few seasons was occupied by a pair of Bluebirds. One 

 spring they failed to appear at the usual time and the box was taken by a pair 

 of Martins. The old nest was carried out and the newcomers were thor- 

 oughly settled in 

 their quarters, 

 when the Blue- 

 birds returned 

 (probably the 

 same pair that had 

 formerly occupied 

 the box), and at 

 once commenced 

 tearing out the in- 

 truders' nest. But 

 they were soon 

 discovered and a 

 pitched battle en- 

 sued, the Blue- 

 birds retiring as if 

 defeated. T h i s 

 procedure was re- 

 peated several 

 mornings and at 

 intervals during 

 the davs. When, 



THE LOWER SET WAS LAID PREMATURELY OR El SP CHIT T Vn KV A rrrr n SKIP 



early one morn- 

 ing, being awak- 

 ened by the incessant screams of the Martins, 1 hastened to the yard to see 

 what I supposed was the final encounter; but the affray was over before I 

 arrived. My father, however, was there holding a female Martin in his hand, 

 he having witnessed the whole affair. After much scolding and sparring 

 one of the Bluebirds clinched with the Martin, and both birds rolled together 

 from the house-top to the pavement below, where, in deadly embrace, they 

 were captured ; but the Bluebird, still strong and active, slipped away. In 



-^Photo by Rev. W. P. Henni 

 A DOUBLE NEST OF THE BLUEBIRD. 



