THE BLUEBIRD 11 



clinched again and fell to the ground, I cautiously- 

 approached them, hat in hand. "When ten feet 

 away and unregarded, I made a sudden dash and 

 covered them with my hat. The struggle con- 

 tinued for a few seconds under there, then all 

 was still. Sudden darkness had fallen upon the 

 field of battle. What did they think had hap- 

 pened? Presently their heads and wings began 

 to brush the inside of my hat. Then all was still 

 again. Then I spoke to them, called to them, ex- 

 ulted over them, but they betrayed no excite- 

 ment or alarm. Occasionally a head or a body 

 came in gentle contact with the top or the sides 

 of my hat. 



But the two females were evidently agitated 

 by the sudden disappearance of their contending 

 lovers, and began uttering their mournful alarm- 

 note. After a minute or two I lifted one side of 

 my hat and out darted one of the birds ; then I 

 lifted the hat from the other. One of the females 

 then rushed, apparently with notes of joy and 

 congratulation, to one of the males, who gave 

 her a spiteful tweak and blow. Then the other 

 came and he served her the same. He was evi- 

 dently a little bewildered, and not certain what 

 had happened or who was responsible for it. 

 Did he think the two females were in some way 

 to blame ? But he was soon reconciled to one of 



