A RUFFIAN IN FEATHERS. 155 



know how many broods have been raised there, 

 but early in July I was attracted by cries of 

 infant distress, mingled with harsh parental 

 scolding. On looking out I saw great excite- 

 ment in the spruce : the mother hopping about 

 with an air of anxiety ; the father scolding his 

 loudest, and making constant raids to drive 

 away intrusive neighbors who collected in the 

 next tree. An opera-glass brought the scene 

 near, and I saw at once the cause of the trouble. 

 A nestling had entangled one foot in the edge 

 of the -nest, and hung head downwards, calling 

 loudly for help. The mother was evidently try- 

 ing to coax him to "make an effort," while the 

 stern father was uttering dire threats if he did 

 not conduct himself in a more becoming man- 

 ner. The poor sparrowling struggled bravely, 

 but every attempt ended in failure, and the lit- 

 tle fluffy body drooped more wearily after each 

 trial. 



A life is a life, if it is but a sparrow's, and 

 so greatly were my sympathies aroused that I 

 would have dispatched human help to the scene 

 of the accident ; but the tree was tall and slen- 

 der, and the only available climber was a young 

 gentleman, who would laugh to scorn the de- 

 mand. Nothing could be done but watch the 

 movements of the birds. 



The mother perched on a lower branch and 



