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with minuteness and care, pulling out hair, and making himself 

 generally very familiar and friendly. 



Dick was a very happy little bird, and so gentle and dear and 

 affectionate that we missed him sadly when he joined a flock of his 

 friends one day late in September, and flew away with them. Perhaps 

 we shall see him next spring. We hope so. 



A JUNCO'S NEST. 



Miss Sara E. Ghaves, Waterbiiry. 



The young ladies at the next farm house discovered the nest in a 

 sunset ramble a mile away on the hills. They could not identify the 

 bird, and their description was somewhat vague, though sufficient to 

 arouse my curiosity. I had no suspicion what the bird might be. 

 "Would I go up and see the nest myself?" Indeed, nothing could de- 

 light me more, especially as it was off my regular beat. 



A night or two later we went up on the slopes of Prospect hill, 

 itself a sufficient attraction. On arriving at the sugar "shanty" near 

 the location of the nest we paused to take breath. And what a view, 

 a panorama of uplands and lowlands, farm lands and mountains with 

 grand old Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield in the background. It 

 was a perfect June evening. 



"All was so still in earth and air 

 You scarce would start to meet a spirit there. 

 Secure that naught of evil could delight 

 To walk in such a scene on such a night." 

 But the mother bird recalled us to our object. There she was, 

 sitting on a branch above cur heads, lisping audibly "Phit — phit." Her 

 utter indifference might have fooled us quite, had we not known of 

 the nest; but I was surprised to find that it was a slate colored snow- 

 bird nesting in our neighborhood. The nest was securely hidden in 

 a rank bed of chickweed, so deep in shadow and so perfectly in harmony 

 Avith its surroundings, that even when we had uncovered it and were 

 looking straight into it, we saw nothing but thickly matted chickweed, 

 until suddenly four bright red mouths popped open, as though saying 

 "Boo" to the intruders. Little fuzzy creatures they were — "darky" 

 babies in truth. They would have baffled interviewers most success- 

 fully if they only had known enough to keep their mouths shut. 



