OUR HOME BIRDS. 
139 
often three or four feet wide and from four to five 
feet high — and the outside is built of large sticks or 
fagots. Among the openings of these sticks three or 
four pairs of crow blackbirds will often make their 
nests, while the fish-hawk is busy with her little fam- 
ily above. All goes on in the most perfect harmony; 
and if the hawk wishes to make a call or do some 
marketing, she can say to her neighbors with perfect 
confidence, ‘Just have an eye to my little ones, will 
you ?’ while she is equally ready to perform the same 
service for the grakles. Each faithfully watches and 
protects the other’s property. 
“ A famous living poet does not take the farmer’s 
view of the blackbird, for he says, 
‘ O Blackbird ! sing me something well : 
While all the neighbors shoot thee round, 
I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground, 
Where thou mayest warble, eat, and dwell/ ” 
