188 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



on her wings, and that does not come into the 

 name at all. Talk about woman's wrongs ! And 

 the poor little things cannot even apply to the 

 legislature for a change of name ! 



You do not blame them for nesting in the 

 mountains and the seclusion of northern woods, 

 to get away from the scientists who so ignore their 

 individuality. For in this case it is not their 

 mates who are at fault. They are as pleasing, in- 

 offensive birds as any in the warbler family, and 

 go about singing their z-ie guttural x^^ 



as they hunt over the twigs and 5 ^ 

 branches, without the slightest assumption of con- 

 jugal authority. 



Indeed, I saw one last August suing very hum- 

 bly for his little lady's favor. She was either out of 

 temper, or else inclined to coquette with him. He 

 would fly to her side in a prettily gentle, unobtru- 

 sive way, but she would not even sit on the same 

 branch with him. Off she would go to the next 

 tree. And he would meekly follow after ! 



The blue-back has a pretty way of turning up 

 his head for a look before he flies to the branch 

 above him, or clambering about by the help of a 

 stem here, or the side of a sapling there, for, as 

 Mr. Burroughs says, he is not a gymnast. He is 

 a winning, trustful little bird, and will often stop 

 his work as you come by, to look at you. 



