60 



THE OOLOGIST 



in any of them; but the garden was 

 such a delightful spot that I lingered 

 around, examining the many flowers 

 that were beginning to bloom I took 

 a seat in one corner of the grounds 

 and gazed around. Imagine my sur- 

 prise and delight when I saw a bird 

 pick up a small piece of dead grass 

 and fly to a tree in which I had placed 

 one of the houses. Full of expectancy 

 and not a little awed, I stealthily 

 stalked up under the tree and peered 

 eagerly among the branches. Yes, 

 sure enough he was living in the 

 house, for I saw him hop out of the 

 entrance. He looked around, gave a 

 short chirp and flew away. I stayed 

 under the tree, knowing that he would 

 be soon returning with more furniture. 

 I had not long to wait, for he was 

 soon back carrying some feathers from 

 a nearby chicken coop, I suspected. 

 He looked around and boldly entered 

 the door. I watched him and his 

 mate, identifying them as the English 

 Sparrow, carry on this performance 

 for quite a while. I then walked 

 away, fearing they would discover my 

 presence and go away for good. These 

 were my first bird tenants. 



It was nearly two weeks later be- 

 fore, happening along that way again, 

 I heard a terrible commotion up in the 

 trees that was fast becoming a riot. 

 My mind flew at once to that ever- 

 menacing enemy of all our feathered 

 neighbors, the cat. I hurried in, jump- 

 ing over the gate in my haste. There 

 was a small riot, but from circum- 

 stances of which I had never dreamed. 

 It seems that a pair of bustling 

 House Wrens had moved into one of 

 my other houses located in an old and 

 weather-beaten crabapple tree. This 

 was where the whole commotion 

 centered. The Sparrows, disliking 

 their new neighbors, were boldly and 

 impolitely trying to drive them away; 

 but the Wrens were just as deter- 



mined to stay. They were telling the 

 fact to tlie whole world in general, and 

 the Sparrows in particular, in very 

 strong bird language. The whole bird 

 population within hearing distance 

 came over to listen. There were saucy 

 Catbirds agreeing with every word 

 every one said. Dainty yellow Warb- 

 lers nodded their heads. Two or 

 three pairs of Robins and numerous 

 other birds came out. If they were 

 looking for a sensation they certainly 

 saw it. The Wrens were darting at 

 the invaders of their home, and the 

 Sparrows darting at the Wrens, al- 

 ways manoeuvering to get them away 

 from their home so that they could 

 rush in and tear it to pieces; but one 

 of the Wrens always stayed near their 

 front porch, I couldn't be sure, but 1 

 think it was Mrs. Wren. The door had 

 been made a great deal too large even 

 for a bluebird, and as the Wrens al- 

 ways like a very small entrance it 

 was way too large for them. Not 

 daunted by this small oversight 

 though, they had cunningly barricaded 

 it with stout twigs until only a small 

 place at the top was left open. This 

 proves that something more than just 

 instinct shows them to build their 

 homes. How did they know enough 

 to make the entrance smaller? They 

 must have some brains, yet greater 

 men than I have said they do every- 

 thing by instinct. 



Much as I disliked doing it, with a 

 few well-directed stones I drove my 

 first tenants away from the immediate 

 surroundings of my new friends. I 

 had studied the Sparrows' cnaraciers, 

 and found that they didn't have a 

 very good reputation. They have a 

 bad habit of fighting and driving our 

 own native and more beneficial birds 

 away. With one factor of the excite- 

 ment out of the way things soon be- 

 gan to become normal again, and I sat 

 down and quietly watched the Wrens 



