A SIRD'S-NEST HUNTER. 81 



ago said, *' The thing that hath been, it is 

 that which shall be." Nothing could have 

 been more complacent and affectionate than 

 the lady's voice and demeanor as often as 

 she gave the finishing touches to a twig, 

 and called to her companion, " Come, now, 

 let's go for another." Naturally, the female 

 is the one most concerned about the stabil- 

 ity and comfortable shape of the nest, and 

 possibly she does not count it prudent to 

 entrust her spouse with any share in so deli- 

 cate and important an undertaking ; but, if 

 so, she must know him for an arrant bun- 

 gler, since the structure which she herself 

 puts together is a most shabby - looking 

 affair, scarcely better than the cuckoo's. 



Such happiness as that of these married 

 lovers was perhaps too perfect to last. At 

 any rate, it was only a week before their 

 idyl all at once turned to tragedy. A sharp 

 click) click ! attracted my attention, as I 

 passed under their birch (on my way to call 

 upon a pair of chickadees, who were keep- 

 ing house in a low stump close by), and, 

 glancing up, I saw the bushy tail of a red 

 squirrel hanging over the edge of the nest. 

 The male grosbeak was dashing wildly 



