THE BLUEBIRD. 251 



female fleeing with all her speed, and the 

 male pursuing with equal precipitation ; and 

 were it not for the broods of young birds 

 that appear, it would be hard to believe that 

 the intercourse ever ripened into anything 

 more intimate. 



With the bluebirds the male is useful as 

 well as ornamental. He is the gay champion 

 and escort of the female at all times, and 

 while she is sitting he feeds her regularly. 

 It is very pretty to watch them building 

 their nest. The male is very active in hunt- 

 ing out a place and exploring the boxes and 

 cavities, but seems to have no choice in the 

 matter, and is anxious only to please and 

 encourage his mate, who has the practical 

 turn and knows what will do and what will 

 not. After she has suited herself he ap- 

 plauds her immensely, and away the two go 

 in quest of material for the nest, the male 

 acting as guard, and flying above and in ad- 

 vance of the female. She brings all the ma- 

 terial, and does all the work of building, he 

 looking on and encouraging her with gesture 

 and song. He acts also as inspector of her 

 work, but I fear is a very partial one. She 

 enters the nest with her bit of dry grass or 

 straw, and having adjusted it to her notion, 



