40 A WOODLAND INTIMATE. 



proceeded to try again. She behaved like 

 herself, made free with a number of insects, 

 and then, all at once, for no reason that I 

 could guess at, she sprang out of the nest, 

 and alighted on the ground within two 

 yards of my feet, and almost before I could 

 realize what had occurred was up in the 

 tree. I had my eyes upon her, determined, 

 if possible, to keep the pair distinct, and suc- 

 ceeded, as I believed, in so doing. Pretty 

 soon the male (unless I was badly de- 

 ceived) went to the nest with a large in- 

 sect in his bill, and stood for some time be- 

 side it, eating and chattering. Finally he 

 dropped upon the eggs, and, seeing him 

 grown thus unsuspicious, I thought best to 

 test him once more. This time he kept his 

 seat, and with great condescension ate two 

 of my plant-lice. But there he made ari 

 end. Again and again I put the third one 

 to his mouth ; but he settled back obsti- 

 nately into the nest, and would have none 

 of it. For once, as it seemed, he could be 

 brave ; but he was not to be coddled, or 

 treated like a baby or a female. There 

 were good reasons, of course, for his being 

 less hungry than his mate, and conse- 



