102 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [9 :4— April, 1913 



brick red, while he had a bright salmon front, and a back the 

 color of the sky. 



Boy Blue's' job as guard and entertainer kept him very busy, 

 and still he wanted to do more. Several times he brought some 

 material for the nesting ; but it never suited Girlie, and he always 

 had to drop it to the ground instead of being allowed to toss it 

 into the house. But presently another job opened up for him. 

 The English Sparrows tried to nest in the rear and had to be 

 routed. No doubt it was due to Boy Blue's watchfulness that 

 that other part was never occupied, and the lady took the hint to 

 make no more double birdhouses. 



In a fence corner Girlie found the matted feathers of a 

 chicken just as they had been dumped from the dish-pan. As 

 sun and wind dried the topmost of these feathers she soon had 

 enough to line her nest soft and downy. This saved her from 

 doing what is said of birds, namely, that they will pull out some of 

 their own feathers if they can find no others to finish the nest. 



Many spring flowers were in bloom by the time Girlie had 

 her house furnished to suit her. Then she loved it so well that 

 for a fortnight she stayed in it almost constantly, and Boy Blue 

 fed her as one would a helpless baby. But sometimes when he 

 had an extra nice worm he wanted to enjoy it himself a while : he 

 would alight on the edge of the platform and wait until Girlie 

 came to the entrance and chirped something to him. Perhaps 

 she said ''Hurry, dear, I'm starving," or something like that. 

 Then if he didn't go to her she came out, and with a saucy air 

 snatched his catch from him. 



After a while both parents were carrying food to the house, 

 and in another week sounds like z-z-z were heard from within 

 — the babies begging for food. From the bean poles in the 

 garden, from posts in the vineyard, or from fence pickets the 

 parents would pounce on anything that moved on the ground, or 

 upon things that flew about. If a field was being plowed near 

 by, they were there hunting in the furrows. Any big catch like 

 a beetle or a grub they took to a fence post and beat it till it 

 was soft and juicy. 



One June morning two bright, wondering eyes peered out 

 of the bird house. The next second a tiny birdling stood on the 

 little porch, and after resting a moment flew into an adjoining 

 tre.e. When the mother returned he called to her "terwee," as 

 much as to say, "Here I am." Mother answered ''dee-ar," and 

 the little fellow fluttered with joy. Perhaps he had expected a 

 scolding for being so precocious. 



