FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



more active than the mother. At one nest on which I worked in 

 fine light and comfortable location, the male came four times to 

 the female's once, yet he seemed more timid before the camera 

 than she. They always brought the bugs and worms, the latter 

 preferably, and fed them direct to the young, emptying a cloaca 

 at each trip; lovable, delightful birds with which to fellowship. 

 The coming season I shall put up a dozen boxes, even more, 

 scattered all the way around the orchard, where Bluebirds' work 

 with small caterpillars is as good an economic proposition as 

 their colour and song is from an artistic standpoint; although 

 I do not uphold the song as much of a musical performance, yet 

 I love it, possibly because it means spring has come. 



Examine these studies of grown birds and young closely, 

 and see if you do not agree with me that these are serious birds; 

 tender and gentle, I grant, but taking the business of life as 

 heavy responsibility. In long and uncounted hours of watching 

 around their nests, these are almost the only birds I never have 

 seen play. The male does not pretend he is going to pick his 

 mate, and then not do it, or indulge in love taps. She does not 

 pay the slightest attention to him or offer him a caress either in 

 jest or reality. 



Once I saw a male depart enough from the even tenor of 

 his ways to exhibit temper. He came early and strongly ap- 

 proved of a box I had ready, where I could plainly see it from a 

 window. Several days later the Deacon and I happened to be 

 watching together when he conducted her to the flat, and dis- 

 coursed volubly; they are extremely voluble birds, on its every 

 merit. She was not even politely interested. He urged her to 

 enter, going in and coming out repeatedly to show her it was all 

 right, all the time talking a blue streak, flying one also; but no 

 response. Then he went to the ground and gathered a big beak- 

 ful of nest material. As he reached the entrance with it, he 



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