BIRDS AND STRAWBERRIES. 31 



are pushed out of their nest, and always fall to 

 the ground. 



And the authors of these fables were grown- 

 up, and had passed their lives among the mock- 

 ing-birds. I curbed my impatience, stayed an- 

 other week, and saw all the nestlings out, and 

 the nest deserted. 



Another charge also fell to the ground on 

 careful observation. The farmers complain 

 as farmers are apt to complain of their best 

 friends, the birds that the mocking-bird eats 

 strawberries. I set myself to watch a fine patch 

 full of ripe and tempting berries, several times 

 when no one was near. Many birds came about, 

 mocking-birds, crows, king-birds, orchard ori- 

 oles, and others. The mocking-birds ran down 

 between the rows of vines catching grasshop- 

 pers, the crows did the same service, walking 

 with dignity. The king-birds chased flies, the 

 orioles searched the fruit trees for insects. One 

 .and all were working in the interest of the 

 strawberry grower. And while I watched, an 

 hour or more at a time, not even for dessert 

 after filling their stomachs with insects, did one 

 take a berry, which I am sure they might be 

 considered to have earned. 



I know one lady would there were more 

 like her who owns a garden on Long Island, 

 and when her gardener comes in and says some- 



