let Mrs. Kingbird catch you fooling around her 

 nest ! 



However, it was here in the maple that day 

 that I had a fresh glimpse into the heart of this 

 little-loved bird. He is not so quarrelsome and 

 ill-natured under his feathers as he appears. He 

 is splintery, but neighborly withal. 



"While I was holding to his nest-bough, the 

 skiff swung in and wedged its nose between the 

 forks of another limb that dragged the water. 

 Turning to get free, I put my hand fairly upon a 

 second nest— the dainty cradle of an orchard- 

 oriole. The two nests were not five feet apart. 



Kingbird and oriole friendly? It is hard to 

 imagine two birds with respectable bird ways so 

 ill assorted for neighbors as these two. Eather 

 is it hard to think of kingbirds living in peace 

 anywhere or with anybody. 



The difference in the natures of the two birds 

 was strikingly exhibited in the style of these 

 two nests. The kingbird has n't a particle of 

 imagination, not an atom of the artistic in his 

 soul. His shape, dress, and voice declare it. He 

 is hard-headed, straightforward, and serious, 

 somewhat overbearing, perhaps, and testy, but 

 [196] 



