BIRD PARADISE 



17 



notes that might be termed a song. The nest is 

 pnt into a little cavity in the ground, being con- 

 structed of grass and moss. When I come upon 

 them suddenly in the field they have a way of 

 throwing themselves into the air, whirling up- 

 ward as though shot from some strong bow. 

 Audubon says that they have the practice of 

 soaring and singing in the air, like the English 

 lark, but I have never seen them. 



A family of bluebirds have made me a visit 

 of at least a week's duration. They do their 

 own cooking, provide their own lodging, in 

 short, are no expense to the parson in the slight- 

 est degree. The young fellows look plump, and 

 are so. Their new coats fit them without a 

 wrinkle, but their voices are way off from the 

 usual cheery song of the race. At first I thought 

 some new bird had appeared, but investigation 

 revealed the fact that it was the old, old story, and 

 bluebird's way of telling it. There is something 

 quite interesting in these family outfits, especially 

 as they draw on to the point of separating for the 

 rest of life's journey. There doesn't seem to be 

 any particular sentiment in their action, and 

 they go apart as a sort of matter of course ; in 



