JULY. 187 



raided the nest of the latter. Mr. Conrad said that the 

 quail endeavored to avoid the attacks of the thrush by 

 dodging among the thick weeds, but was not always suc- 

 cessful, as the thrush made downward swoops, as a hawk 

 would, and appeared to use both beak and claws to advan- 

 tage. The quail was ultimately forced to retreat. 



How well I remember a long-drawn battle between a 

 pair of great-crested fly-catchers and of bluebirds. By 

 chance they had chosen hollows in adjacent -apple trees for 

 their nests, and so were brought daily into more or less 

 close association. So far as I could see, all went well. The 

 fly-catchers hawked for insects among the tree-tops ; the 

 bluebirds were content with worms from near the ground. 

 But by and by the eggs of the bluebirds were hatched — 

 at least, I assume that they were — and at that time the 

 young of the fly-catchers were well-nigh grown. Before 

 sunrise, one morning, when the bluebirds were happier 

 than usual, there arose a clatter in the lane, such as I have 

 seldom heard among birds. 



Every robin stopped singing, the wrens forgot their 

 broods, orioles screeched, and every cat-bird bawled Mur- 

 der ! without knowing what the trouble was. Even the 

 poultry took it up, and for many minutes that quiet, shady 

 lane, ordinarily the very picture of peace, was an actual 

 Pandemonium. It did not take many minutes to fathom 

 the mystery. "While every bird present was thoroughly 

 excited, there were four upon which my attention was at 

 once centered. Brave as lions, the bluebirds, little furies 

 now, hurled themselves against the fly-catchers, which, 

 although stronger, could not withstand them. Vainly 

 they attempted to dodge their pursuers, but the bluebirds 

 were too quick. They had acquired new powers, and 

 with strength, courage, and endurance I never supposed 

 them to possess, they drove the fly-catchers far a-field and 

 kept them there. 



