" UPON THE TREE-TOP." 115 



the birds were reassured. He went to the nest 

 and looked in, but she could not be persuaded 

 that it was safe for her to return. She flew 

 back and forth between two trees about a hun- 

 dred feet apart. In the route she went past her 

 home ; after flying straight by once or twice, 

 her course began to swerve a little towards her 

 own tree ; the second time she almost reached 

 it, but turned and went on ; the third time she 

 alighted an instant on the lowest step, hastily 

 flying away as if she expected another earth- 

 quake ; the fourth time she rapidly mounted 

 her winding stairs, and glanced in the nest; 

 the fifth time she entered it for a moment ; the 

 sixth time she stayed. 



One morning, after breakfast, an unusual 

 sound was heard, the same by which the female 

 oriole when in trouble had called her mate, 

 the signal of distress. It came from the front 

 of the house, and I hastened to see what was 

 amiss with the little family. Before I reached 

 them I noticed the cawing of a crow nearer 

 than we usually heard that sound, and when I 

 came in sight of the woods on that side, be- 

 hold ! Corvus himself on the top branch of a 

 tall tree, perfectly outlined against the sky, 

 cawing his loudest. The oriole was not in 

 sight, but while I looked a second crow rose 

 from the woods, and after him, to my surprise, 



