100 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



and bird, and at night follows the 

 moths with his net and lantern, and he 

 told me this story of an oriole's power 

 of thought. 



Late in May, three pairs of orioles 

 were locating their nests in the garden 

 elms and there had been much skir- 

 mishing, fighting, and singing. Sud- 

 denly there arose a wonderful noise 

 and commotion. Robins were giving 

 the alarm to the bluebirds, thrushes, 

 and sparrows, for high in the fork of 

 a branch, a female oriole, who had 

 slipped or was caught in flying, hung 

 by the neck. Near by sat the three 

 males, more quiet than agitated, while 

 the other birds dashed about in the 

 wildest excitement. The females cried, 

 hovering about their unfortunate sister, 

 pulling and jerking her tail, yet only 

 succeeding in wedging her still more 

 firmly. At last a gorgeous male darted 



