A BREATH OF APRIL 



versation, punctuated by those pretty wing gestures, 

 about the two bird-boxes. 



These scenes of love and rivalry had lasted nearly 

 all the forenoon, and matters between the birds 

 apparently remained as they were before — the 

 members of each pair quite satisfied with each 

 other. One pair occupied one of the bird-boxes in 

 the vineyard and reared two broods there during 

 the season, but the other pair drifted away and 

 took up their abode somewhere else. 



If they had come to an understanding, why this 

 continued demonstration and this war between 

 them? The unusual thing was the interest and the 

 activity of the females. They outdid the males in 

 making love and in making war. With most species 

 of our birds, the females are quite indifferent to the 

 blandishments of the males, if they are not actually 

 bored by them. They flee from them, or spitefully 

 resent their advances. In April a female robin 

 may often be seen fighting off three or four of her 

 obstreperous admirers, as if every feminine senti- 

 ment she possessed had been outraged. 



But the bluebird is an exception; the female is 

 usually very responsive, but only in the instance 

 above related have I seen her so active in the court- 

 ship. 



