106 Virginian Nightingales 



take up a prominent position in one of these trees that 

 overhung the rock garden, where his brilliant scarlet 

 breast showed in striking contrast to the shower of 

 golden blossoms surrounding him. 



I don't think he ever assisted his wife in the work 

 of incubation ; but he fed her on her nest most atten- 

 tively, and sang roundelays to her most cheerily. Not 

 that she couldn't tune up also, for hen Virginians 

 imitate their lords in weaker tones. 



Into the second nest I never looked, until it seemed 

 by the behaviour of the parent birds that there were 

 young ones, when I ventured, standing on some car- 

 penter's steps to get a view. 



Yes ! it was all right. There were three. I made 

 up my mind that with marauders about, I would take 

 them, and try to rear them by hand. They lived for 

 two or three days, and they died after that. End of 

 Vol. ii. ! 



Vol. iii. was commenced in July by those inde- 

 fatigable Americans, in the shape of a third nest, built 

 in a box tree. 



This time, two young ones ! 



" I must try and rear one ; " and success crowned 

 my efforts. With our trusty housekeeper's motherly 

 care and help, a young cock bird grew up. 



His brother or sister, left to the care of its parents, 

 fell a prey, as had other brothers and sisters before it, 

 to some wretch. 



So I was glad that one had been rescued. 



"Joey" was a beauty, and lived happily ever after- 

 wards, as the story books say. 



