150 YOUNG AMERICA IN FEATHERS. 



blossoms white as snow," and tall wild roses 

 wherever they could find space to grow. 



Nearly down to the spring, I seated myself 

 under the bushes and waited. At first, until the 

 bustle of my coming was hushed, all was silent ; 

 but soon bird notes began, soft little " pips " 

 and " chur-r-r's," and other sounds I could not 

 trace to their authors, but plainly expressing 

 disapproval of a spy among them. Catbirds 

 complained with a soft liquid " chuck " or their 

 more decided " mew ; " kingbirds peeped out to 

 see what was the excitement, and then settled 

 in the bushes in plain sight, at leisure now since 

 their decorous little folk were educated and 

 taking care of themselves ; and other birds 

 came whispering about behind my back, while 

 I dared not turn to see, lest I send everybody 

 off in a panic. An oriole, 



" Like an orange tulip flaked with black," 

 dropped in as he passed, but left in haste, as if 

 averse to company, with his customary shyness 

 while training the young ; for this brilliant bird, 

 during nesting so fearless everywhere, manages 

 to disappear completely after the young leave 

 the nest. Now and then he may be seen going 

 about near the ground, silent, and absorbed in 

 his arduous task of teaching those clamorous 

 urchins to get their own living ; or in the early 

 morning, engaged in picking open the hideous 



