98 THE BIRD OF SOCIETY. 



one is easily deceived. Then he will jump 

 heavily to the next bough, and walk the length 

 of that, jerking his tail at every step, and all 

 the time scolding and screaming at the top of 

 his voice, till you are sure the whole bird world 

 will be notified of the presence of an inquisi- 

 tive stranger with suspicious manners. 



Should the young be out, you will quickly be 

 informed of the fact by the presence of the 

 modestly dressed mother, who will appear, per- 

 haps, with a mouthful of food, which, however, 

 will not prevent her uttering the blackbird 

 " Chack ! chack ! " She will resent your intru- 

 sion earnestly, hopping uneasily about the tree, 

 anxious to carry her load to the nest, yet fear- 

 ing to have you see her, till at length she will 

 slip behind the trunk and silently take wing 

 from the further side, while her ingenuous 

 spouse, perfectly confident of the success of her 

 ruse, delivers a triumphant cry. 



Such childlike faith is not to be betrayed. 

 You have not the heart to follow that troubled 

 mother to the clump of low bushes where her 

 treasure is hidden. You are not here as a rob- 

 ber, or a violator of homes, however small, but 

 as a student of life. To-morrow you shall re- 

 turn and see the darlings of the blackbird fam- 

 ily out on the tree, which is much more satis- 

 factory than to disturb the nest, and distress 

 the owners thereof. 



