186 A SPRING RELISH. 



they pause to feed in their northward journey, their 

 brief, lisping, shuffling, insect-like notes requiring to 

 be searched for by the ear, as their forms by the eye. 

 But the ear is not tasked to identify the songs of the 

 kinglets, as they tarry briefly with us in spring. In 

 fact there is generally a week in April or early 

 May, 



" On such a time as goes before the leaf, 



When all the woods stand in a mist of green 



And nothing perfect," 



during which the piping, voluble, rapid, intricate, and 

 delicious warble of the golden-crowned kinglet is the 

 most noticeable strain to be heard, especially among 

 the evergreens. 



I notice that during the mating season of the 

 birds the rivalries and jealousies are not all confined 

 to the males. Indeed, the most spiteful and furious 

 battles, as among the domestic fowls, are frequently 

 between females. I have seen two hen robins scratch 

 and pull feathers in a manner that contrasted strongly 

 with the courtly and dignified sparring usual between 

 the males. One March a pair of bluebirds decided 

 to set up housekeeping in the trunk of an old apple- 

 tree near my house. Not long after an unwedded 

 female appeared, and probably tried to supplant the 

 lawful wife. I did not see what arts she used, but I 

 saw her being very roughly handled by the jealous 

 bride. The battle continued nearly all day about the 

 orchard and grounds, and was a battle at very close 

 quarters. The two bird* would clinch in the air or 



