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making. Though mating is past, yet many 

 a pretty courtship goes on in the furrow. 

 Birds are no more constant, nor beyond 

 temptation, than are we, the unfeathered of 

 bipeds. 



Duels, too fierce encounters betwixt 

 aerial warriors all aruffle, dashing, full tilt, 

 against one another, ready for all violence 

 within compass of beak and claw. That 

 tetchy fellow, the bluebird, is ready to fight 

 if another does but nod polite approval of 

 his love. Redbird and wren are likewise 

 pugnacious even gentle Robin Redbreast 

 develops an amazing stomach for quarrel. 

 Master Blackbird is wiser far. If his dame 

 goes flirting off with a neighbor, all he does 

 is to sleek and preen him till the green fire 

 comes out over all his dusky coat, sail frol- 

 icly down the furrow, seize a fat white grub, 

 and fly with it to some high place, chatter- 

 ing triumph over his prize. Madame, hear- 

 ing, flies to him upon the instant, there is 

 coy reconciliation over the feast, and both 

 go back scatheless to search for another 

 tidbit. 



Most like they choose a new field one 

 where the lean earth has for years run to 

 waste. Bush, brake, brier, cover the face of 

 it. Here no plough can pass till steel and 



