FUSS AND FEATHERS 



bird neighbors. Four robins came, one after another, 

 and perched on the tops of surrounding posts, silent 

 but interested spectators. A male oriole came, a cat- 

 bird came, two song sparrows came, and then a 

 male goldfinch perched near by. The birds were evi- 

 dently curious to know what all this loud alterca- 

 tion was about very human in this respect. 



After the bluebird had eased his mind a little 

 about wrens, he dropped down to the box, and, 

 clinging to the entrance of the nest, looked in. 

 Instantly the wren was on his back, scolding ex- 

 citedly. The bluebird turned to seize him, but was 

 not quick enough, and there was a brown streak, 

 with a blue streak close behind it, to the nearest 

 currant-bush, in which the wren again chattered 

 and sang in derision. The bluebird again resumed 

 his perch above the nest and was louder and more 

 emphatic than ever in his protests. It was really very 

 amusing to see the bluebird stand up so straight 

 there on the post, like a stump orator, delivering 

 his philippic against the wren. His whole bearing 

 and tone expressed indignation and an outraged 

 sense of justice. I fancied him saying: "My friends 

 and neighbors, I want to bear witness before you 

 of the despicable character of this chattering, skulk- 

 ing, impudent house wren. He is an intolerable 

 nuisance. He crosses my path daily. Every honest 

 bird hates him. He fills up the boxes he cannot 

 occupy with his rubbish, and assaults me if I look 

 81 



