BIRDS'-NESTS. 159 



elm, by tying together certain pendent twigs 

 as a foundation. The male now associated 

 chiefly with the intruder, whom he even as- 

 sisted in her labor, yet did not wholly forget 

 his first partner, who called on him one even- 

 ing in a low, affectionate tone, which was an- 

 swered in the same strain. While they were 

 thus engaged in friendly whispers, suddenly 

 appeared the rival, and a violent rencontre 

 ensued, so that one of the females appeared 

 to be greatly agitated, and fluttered with 

 spreading wings as if considerably hurt. 

 The male, though prudently neutral in the 

 contest, showed his culpable partiality by 

 flying off with his paramour, and for the 

 rest of the evening left the tree to his pug- 

 nacious consort. Cares of another kind, 

 more imperious and tender, at length recon- 

 ciled, or at least terminated, these disputes 

 with the jealous females ; and by the aid of 

 the neighboring bachelors, who are never 

 wanting among these and other birds, peace 

 was at length completely restored, by the 

 restitution of the quiet and happy condition 

 of monogamy." 



Let me not forget to mention the nest 

 under the mountain ledge, the nest of the 

 common pewee, a modest mossy structure, 



