136 BIRDS'-NESTS. 



I have seen a fine cock robin paying 

 assiduous addresses to a female bird as 

 late as the middle of July ; and I have no 

 doubt that his intentions were honorable. I 

 watched the pair for half an hour. The 

 hen, I took it, was in the market for the 

 second time that season ; but the cock, from 

 his bright, unfaded plumage, looked like a 

 new arrival. The hen resented every ad- 

 vance of the male. In vain he strutted 

 around her and displayed his fine feathers ; 

 every now and then she would make at him 

 in a most spiteful manner. He followed her 

 to the ground, poured into her ear a fine, 

 half-suppressed warble, offered her a worm, 

 flew back to the tree again with a great 

 spread of plumage, hopped around her on 

 the branches, chirruped, chattered, flew gal- 

 lantly at an intruder, and was back in an 

 instant at her side. No use, she cut him 

 short at every turn. 



The denouement I cannot relate, as the 

 artful bird, followed by her ardent suitor, 

 soon flew away beyond my sight. It may 

 not be rash to conclude, however, that she 

 held out no longer than was prudent. 



On the whole, there seems to be a system 

 of Women's Rights prevailing among the 



