118 IN THE MIDDLE COUNTRY. 



peared sometimes in a little flock, and some- 

 times one alone ; and from that time they were 

 to be rated as grown-up and educated cardinals. 

 A brighter or prettier trio I have not seen. I 

 am almost positive there was but one family 

 of cardinals on the place ; and if I am right, 

 those youngsters had been four weeks out of the 

 nest before they took charge of their own food 

 supply. From what I have seen in the case of 

 other young birds, I have no doubt that is the 

 fact. 



