32 STORIES OF BIRDS AND BEASTS 



44 That same year I found a Robin's nest in April, when 

 the water-pail by the well froze every night, and a 

 Woodcock's nest in the brushwood. It's hard to see a 

 Woodcock on the nest, they look so like dead leaves. 

 It snowed a little that afternoon, and the poor bird's 

 back was all white, but there she sat. It made me 

 feel so sorry, and I was so afraid she might freeze, that 

 I made a little roof over her of hemlock branches. And 

 she liked that and didn't move at all ; so then I wiped 

 the snow off her back, and she seemed real comfortable. 

 I used to go back every day after that to see her ; we 

 grew to be quite friends before the four eggs hatched, 

 and I've seen them do queer little tricks ; but I never 

 told anybody where she lived, though, because lots of 

 people don't seem to understand anything about birds 

 but shooting or teasing them." 



" Some day you shall tell us about what the Wood- 

 cock did, my lad. You must tell us a great many 

 stories, for you know what you have seen yourself. 

 That is the best knowledge of all, and it will encourage 

 Nat to hear you," and Dr. Hunter put his arm affec- 

 tionately around the shoulders of each boy. 



" Hush ! Wait a moment and listen to that Thrasher," 

 said the Doctor, stopping behind some thick bushes ; 

 " he is wooing his mate ! " 



" What is wooing ? " whispered Nat. 



44 Asking her to marry him and come and build a 

 cosy home in one of these nice bushes. Listen ! See ! 

 There he is, up on the very top of that young birch, 

 with his head thrown back, singing as if his throat 

 would split." As the children looked up they saw a 

 fine bird with a curved beak, rusty-brown back, and 



