The walls of the nest are usually made 

 of coarse grasses, vegetable fibres, shreds, 

 of fibrous bark and in some instances 

 pine needles are added. Occasionally a 

 nest is found that is completely covered 

 with plant down woven on the outside of 

 the wall. The nest is lined with fine 

 grasses, fine vegetable fibres, plant down 

 and sometimes animal hair. 



"The first two or three weeks of their 

 summer residence are spent by these Fly- 

 catchers among the bushes or along the 

 hedges, sporting with their companions 

 and devoting their days to quiet courtship 

 and the delights of love, enjoying a pe- 

 riod corresponding to the honeymoon of 

 more rational beings." 



THE DISOBEDIENT TOAD. 



Mama Toad lived under the geranium 

 hedge with her little family. They were 

 very happy in their lovely green and red 

 home. All day the little horned toads 

 played about in the bright California 

 sunshine. Flowers bloomed about them 

 the year round, golden oranges hung 

 upon the trees above their heads, and the 

 air was full of perfume. 



No one disturbed the little toads. The 

 hummingbirds and butterflies flitting 

 about among the flowers were their 

 friends. So was Fritzie, the little dog 

 who lived in the house near by. It was 

 great fun for the little toads to frisk 

 about the dog, and when he ran after 

 them to hide under the hedge. 



Then the little girl came. The toads 

 peeped anxiously out at her with their 

 bead-like eyes before they ventured forth. 

 Then the oldest and bravest of them ran 

 close to her. 



"Oh, mama !" cried the little girl, "just 

 see those dear 'ittle things wif points 

 around their heads." 



After that she was their friend, and 

 they loved to play about her. 



Soon after that they heard a noise, 

 and peeping out saw a great creature 

 with something in his hand with which 

 he made a loud sound, which caused them 

 to scamper back to their hiding-place 

 and tell their mother about it. The 

 mother looked out, then gathering her 

 family about her, said : 



"My children, the long-legged crea- 

 ture that you see there is called a boy. 

 He makes the most terrible noises not 



only by screaming, but also with a tin 

 horn which he puts in his mouth. He is 

 the enemy of all toads, therefore beware 

 of him. Keep under the hedge and you 

 will be safe." 



The oldest of the toads often peeped 

 out at the boy and saw him romping 

 with the girl and the dog. 



"I believe my mother is mistaken," 

 said he. "Grown people don't know 

 everything. That creature looks kind. 

 He never hurts the dog, and besides, it 

 is getting very dull here under the 

 hedge." At that he ran out, but hastened 

 back, for the boy ran after hm, crying, 

 "Oh, what a beau-ti-ful horned toad!" 



Pleased at the compliment, toadie 

 proudly raised his head and ventured 

 forth the next day. This time the boy 

 did not seem to see him. Growing 

 bolder and bolder each day and forget- 

 ting his mother's warning, the silly toad 

 approached the boy nearer and nearer. 

 At last, longing for admiration, he ran 

 over the boy's foot. With one spring 

 the boy was upon him, had him in his 

 hand, and alas ! in spite of toadie's wig- 

 gling, he put him in a box with cotton 

 and chloroform which he had been keep- 

 ing for the purpose. The poor little toad 

 soon fell into a deep sleep from which 

 he never awakened. 



Down under the hedge the mother 

 waited in vain for her silly child. 



If you will go to that bov's room you 

 will see the little horned toad stuffed and 

 hanging on the wall, a warning to all 

 toads who disobev their mother. 



Henrietta Lee Coulltng. 



161 



