112 " UPON THE TREE-TOP." 



had set up housekeeping not a dozen feet from 

 the kitchen door, and naturally, on so small a 

 tree, in a most conspicuous position ; when 

 suddenly the silent old building had burst 

 open at every window and door, and swarmed 

 with human life. A mischievous boy or an in- 

 quisitive student of bird ways might cause un- 

 told trouble and alarm in that small household. 

 Such, at least I fancied, were the reflections of 

 the troubled soul in that agitated body as he 

 looked down upon us, watching every move- 

 ment, flitting from tree to tree, but never los- 

 ing sight of any one who chanced to be in the 

 orchard. During this uneasy period I saw what 

 looked like a deliberate intention to deceive. 

 In examining this new field I noticed a small 

 nest in an upright fork of an old tree, in a dead 

 branch at the top, doubtless a last year's home 

 of some small bird. While I looked at it, the 

 oriole flew from his perch directly to it, leaned 

 over as if interested in its contents, and so in- 

 tently that I could not resist the conviction 

 that he wished to mislead me, for when I ex- 

 amined his nest, and he saw that all disguise 

 was at an end, he never again, that I saw, went 

 near that deserted residence. 



This oriole was a remarkably silent bird, 

 the first of his family that I have noticed who 

 passed hour after hour without opening his 



