NOTES BY THE WAY 139 



desperate efforts to supplant the lawful mate and 

 gain possession of the unfinished nest. There was 

 a battle fought about the premises every hour in 

 the day for at least a week. The antagonists would 

 frequently grapple and fall to the ground, and keep 

 their hold like two dogs. On one such occasion I 

 came near covering them with my hat. I believe 

 the 'intruder was finally worsted and withdrew from 

 the place. One noticeable feature of the affair was 

 the apparent utter indifference of the female, who 

 went on with her nest-building as if all was peace 

 and harmony. There can be little doubt that she 

 would have applauded and accepted the other bird 

 had he finally been the victor. 



One of the most graceful of warriors is the robin. 

 I know few prettier sights than two males challeng- 

 ing and curveting about each other upon the grass 

 in early spring. Their attentions to each other are 

 so courteous and restrained. In alternate curves 

 and graceful sallies, they pursue and circumvent 

 each other. First one hops a few feet, then the 

 other, each one standing erect in true military style 

 while his fellow passes him and describes the seg- 

 ment of an ellipse about him, both uttering the 

 while a fine complacent warble in a high but sup- 

 pressed key. Are they lovers or enemies? the 

 beholder wonders, until they make a spring and 

 are beak to beak in the twinkling of an eye, and 

 perhaps mount a few feet into the air, but rarely 

 actually delivering blows upon each other. Every 

 thrust is parried, every movement met. They fol- 



