THE COW-BIRD 



NEST OF VIREO CONTAINING TWO EGGS OF THE BUILDER AND ONE OF 



THE COW-BIRD 



timbered, securely fastened and softly lined, to Bob and me, who 

 had watched its progress, it seemed complete, but the little bird- 

 mother, with exactly the same loving impulse that is in the breast 

 of a human mother when she adds lace and ribbon to her baby's 

 cradle, set about gathering heavy, rough, snow-white cobwebs 

 and festooning them over the outside until the nest looked as if 

 dipped in ocean foam. Then she stuck through these webs a 

 number of fantastically-shaped little dried, brown, empty last 

 year's seed-pods as a finishing touch, and Bob took off his hat. 



He said she was a lady and no gentleman would stand before 

 her covered. He fairly worshiped the delicately colored, jewel- 

 eyed little pair and their exquisite cradle. Concerning them he 



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