THE TRIO MATED 69 



in a party, hunting insects socially on the 

 apple-trees, climbing the trunk of an elm 

 side by side, and singing and playing to- 

 gether, often till late in the evening. 



That conduct of itself was remarkable, 

 but stranger still was the fact that they 

 sang exactly the same song, a thing I never 

 before heard two birds do. This, in connec- 

 tion with their friendliness, made me think 

 it probable that the three were brothers, 

 reared in the same nest, and taught to sing 

 by the same father. 



" Through orchards tinted with the rose 

 In middle May the oriole goes, 

 His flute notes trying ever." 



It was then the middle of May, and I 

 watched with interest to see how their matri- 

 monial affairs would settle themselves. The 

 selection of partners was accomplished in a 

 way satisfactory to all, and as quietly as if 

 they were "old married folk," as, indeed, 

 who knows but they were ! 



Though I was never absent very long, I 

 did not see the process, to my great regret. 

 I suddenly found them all provided with 

 mates, talking together in low soft under- 



