BIRD PARADISE 117 



After the housekeeping duties have once been 

 assumed the male bird seems to consider it an im- 

 portant part of his duty to scold vigorously every 

 other bird that comes within range of his voice. 

 I have noticed that the oriole seems to give the 

 little fellow a stir-up that rouses all his ire. Let 

 the notes of the bright-colored bird sound through 

 my lawn, and flycatcher makes reply that lacks 

 nothing in sharpness. The other birds as a rule 

 pay no attention to the little fellow, none of them 

 apparently taking him seriously. Curious how 

 the way one is considered by his fellows makes 

 itself felt in the character. My little friend, pro- 

 testing with all his might, grows red in the face 

 as no one pays the slightest attention to what he 

 is doing. He keeps the fires burning, however, 

 and grows into a stout complainer that hasn't a 

 particle of influence with anybody. His work 

 among the flies is the saving clause in his record. 

 His appetite seems to crave anything in the shape 

 of an insect, hundreds passing his way daily. 

 Unlike many other species of birds, I have never 

 known but one pair to nest in a given locality the 

 same season. 



On Tuesday morning I saw the first oriole of 

 the season. His hearty whistle from the maples 



