72 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



able settlement where he and his future spouse and 

 family may make themselves a comfortable home for 

 the long summer days to come. 



The male birds come before the females, and in small 

 parties, I think, as it is usual to see four or more of 

 them near each other in the fields and gardens. It speaks 

 well for the domestic harmony of their lives, this look- 

 ing out for the future comfort of their partners, and a 

 good example for our young men to follow before taking 

 to themselves wives. Commend me to the wisdom of 

 Mister Robin. 



There is great rejoicing when the bevy of young 

 females come over the border-land, followed by, I am 

 sorry to say, a good deal of fighting before matrimonial 

 arrangements are completed. 



I rather think that our male robins help to construct 

 the large unsightly nest, or at any rate assist in bring- 

 ing the materials — sticks, roots, dried grass-stalks, straw 

 and other such coarse matter. The walls inside are 

 plastered with clay, not very neatly — in fact, it is about 

 as fine as a chopper's shanty, rough and ready, but serves 

 its purpose as a nursery pro tern, for the young birds. 



If we examine the nests of some of the smaller birds — 

 the finches, for instance — and notice the beauty of struc- 

 ture, the smoothness of finish, the symmetry of form, 

 the softness and delicacy of the interior— no roughness 

 nor hardness in the material, all loose threads tucked in 

 so neatly — and then think of the tools the little builders 



