140 IN THE MIDDLE COUNTRY. 



Finally he reached the branch opposite his 

 birthplace, only the tree - trunk between. The 

 trunk was small, home was invitingly near, he 

 was tired ; the temptation was too great, and in 

 a minute he was cuddled down with his brothers, 

 having been on a journey of an hour. In the 

 nest, all this time, there had been a hurry and 

 skurry of dressing, as though the house were to 

 be vacated, and no one wished to be late. After 

 a rest and probably a nap, the ambitious young 

 jay took a longer trip : he flew to the next tree, 

 and, I believe, returned no more. 



The next day was spent by all the nestlings 

 in hopping about the three branches on which 

 their home was built, making beautiful pictures 

 of themselves every moment ; but whenever the 

 bringer of supplies drew near, each little one 

 hastened to scramble back to the nest, to be 

 ready for his share. The last day in the old 

 home had now arrived. One by one the bird- 

 lings flew to the maple, and turned their backs 

 on their native tree forever ; and that night the 

 " mournful tree " was entirely deserted. 



The exit was not accomplished without its 

 excitement. After tea, as I was congratulating 

 myself that they were all safely out in the world, 

 without accident, suddenly there arose a terrible 

 outcry, robin and blue jay voices in chorus. I 

 looked over to the scene of the fray, and saw a 



