CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



I. OUR VALLEY . . . . . . . 1 



II. THE LITTLE LOVER . . . . . 20 



III. LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT . . . .38 



IV. WAS IT A SEQUEL ? 48 



V. LITTLE PRISONERS IN THE TOWER ... 65 



VI. HINTS BY THE WAY 81 



VII. AROUND OUR RANCH-HOUSE .... 86 



VIII. POCKET MAKERS 103 



IX. THE BIG SYCAMORE 112 



X. AMONG MY TENANTS 123 



XI. AN UNNAMED BIRD 140 



XII. HUMMERS ........ 147 



XIII. IN THE SHADE OF THE OAKS . . . 159 



XIV. A MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY .... 171 



XV. HOW I HELPED BUILD A NEST . . . .175 



XVI. IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S DOOR-YARD . . . 184 



XVII. WHICH WAS THE MOTHER BIRD ? 189 % 



XVIII. A RARE BIRD . . 194 



XIX. MY BLUE GUM GROVE . , 211 



