4 THE KINGBIRD'S NEST. 



visited it. But the nest was not deserted, for 

 all that ; the curiosity and impertinence of the 

 neighbors were simply amazing. (Perhaps the 

 kingbird has some reason to be pugnacious !) 

 No sooner was that tenement finished than, as 

 promptly as if they had received cards to a 

 house-warming, visitors began to come. First 

 to show himself was an orchard oriole, who was 

 in the habit of passing over the yard every day 

 and stopping an hour or more in the neighbor- 

 hood, while he scrambled over the trees, varying 

 his lunches with a rich and graceful song. Ar- 

 rived this morning in the kingbird tree, he be- 

 gan his usual hunt over the top branch, when 

 suddenly his eye fell upon the kingbird cradle. 

 He paused, cast a wary glance about, then 

 dropped to a lower perch, his singing ended, his 

 manner guilty. Nearer and nearer he drew, 

 looking cautiously about and moving in perfect 

 silence. Still the owner did not come, and at 

 last the stranger stood upon the edge. What 

 joy ! He looked that mansion over from foun- 

 dation to banner fluttering in the wind ; he ex- 

 amined closely its construction; with head 

 turned over one side, he criticised its general 

 effect, and apparently did not think much of it ; 

 he gratified to the full his curiosity, and after 

 about one minute's study flew to the next tree, 

 and resumed his singing. 



