A RUFFIAN IN FEATHERS. 159 



It may be a matter of surprise that one can 

 distinguish between birds, but it is not at all 

 difficult when their habits are watched closely. 

 I knew the new wife from the old one in two 

 ways : first, the old one, after the labors of 

 bringing up a brood or two, was worn and rag- 

 ged, while the new-comer was fresh as a daisy, 

 and fluffy and young-looking as a nestling ; 

 second, she approached the nest in a different 

 way. It is true of sparrows, however it may 

 be with other birds, that each one has his spe- 

 cial alighting-places, a certain twig where he 

 first settles, and certain others on which, as a 

 flight of steps, he invariably proceeds to his 

 nest. The mother of the dead infant always 

 came to the home from the right side, and her 

 grim tyrant does so still, but the bride selected 

 a convenient series of twigs on the left side. 



It is now four or five days since the crime 

 was committed, and, although the new spouse 

 is perfectly at home and settled, peace, even 

 to the extent that a sparrow enjoys it, is still 

 a stranger to the spruce-tree nest. I think it 

 is haunted by the discarded mate. Certainly 

 a sparrow, that I have no doubt is she, comes 

 to the neighborhood, and scolds the meek-look- 

 ing bride and her spouse in most savage fashion. 

 No one resents her performance, and after a 

 moment she goes away. 



