35. 



was finished; and two weeks later, 

 after the female had deposited her 

 full set of eggs, wishful to see the 

 manner in which the nest was form- 

 ed, and the number and color of the 

 eggs, I cut down one of the trees. 

 The cavity in which the nest was 

 placed was a natural hollow, but to 

 gain admission the entrance had 

 previously been enlarged by some 

 small animal, probably the flying 

 squirrel. The nest was large, not 

 very neatly formed, and contained 

 seven eggs; these were of a white 

 color thickly dotted with brown 

 like spots. The other nest, in a 

 large knot-hole, about sixteen feet 

 from the ground, was not disturbed. 

 Durkig the breeding season I had 

 frequent opportunity to watch the 

 habits and actions of these birds and 

 see their connubial and parental 

 affection: incubation appeared to be 

 wholly performed by the female, 

 but while she attended to this duty, 

 her wants were constantly supplied 

 by the male. When the young were 

 hatched they were fed by both par- 

 ents, one or the other returning 

 every few minutes with food in 

 their bill, and at the same time 

 carefully removing the mute of the 

 young from the nest. Small and 

 weak as these birds are they never- 

 theless possess arts of defence, and 

 their affectionate regard for their 

 brood when exposed to danger can- 

 not be surpassed by any of the 

 feathered race. One day a red squir- 

 rel frightened by my approach ran 

 up the tree in which the nest of the 

 Nut-hatches was placed, and which 

 how contained their half fledged 

 young. Immediately one of the 

 parent birds, which I supposed to 

 be the female, seeing the danger to 

 which her helpless young were ex- 

 posed, uttered a despairing cry, to 

 protect them with all the means at 

 her command. Placing herself be- 

 fore the entrance to the nest she 

 spread her wings and tail across it, 



and when the squirrel approached, 

 she opened her bill and moved her 

 body from side to side in mute but 

 evident detei'mination to save her 

 young or perish with them. But 

 the squirrel instead of going to the 

 nest, or advancing up the tree, ap- 

 peared so affrighted at the sight that 

 he precipitately retreated and ran 

 away as fast as possible. The bird 

 paused a few moments, and then 

 flew off among the trees, making the 

 woods ring with her notes of ex- 

 ultation. When its nesting place is 

 undisturbed, it will occupy the same 

 premises for several successive years, 

 but it does not appear to occupy 

 any other than a natural cavity, and 

 for this reason it sometimes nests 

 near the ground, and again high 

 up in a tree. 



Its length is about five inches, and 

 its plumage is ashy blue above and 

 white beneath, the head and neck 

 being black. 



(to be continued.) 



Listowell, Ontario, Oauada. 

 -*-•-•- 



Good-by, Little Bird. 



Good-by, little bird, tbe storm-clomids 



Are gathering gray and drear; 

 At the chilly touch of the frost -king 



The sunbeams have paled with fear, 

 Wither 'd, the leaves, and fallen lie; 

 Sadly the winds of autumn sigh; 

 Good-by, little bird, good-by, good-by; 



Little bird, stay not here. 

 Good-by, little bird, I see thee 



Winging thy southward way 

 To a sunuy land thou knowest, 

 Caroling as thou goest, 



Singing a blithsome lay. 

 Alas, and alas, no longer 



Shall thy tuneful voice be heard, 

 Till the leafless limbs be clothed again, 

 And the blossoms gladden hill and glen. 

 Good-by, good-by, little bird, till then; 



Good-by, good-by, little bird. 



— Ellen Tkact Alden. 



