OUR HOME BIRDS. 
311 
worked into it when wet, so that they will be fixed 
there when dry.’ 
“‘I did that myself only yesterday/ said the 
blackbird. 
“ ‘ 1 won’t stand this any longer !’ screamed the 
professor in a towering rage. ‘ Get along with you 
for a set of conceited hobbledehoys, who have only 
just got your first tail-coats, and pretend to under- 
stand nidification as well as your teachers!’ 
“ And he drove them away in wrath. That is the 
reason why the other birds can only build half nests, 
and the jackdaw and starling cannot build a respect- 
able nest at all. 
“ The wren, the dipper, and the bottle-tit, however, 
called on him the next day, and after making their 
apologies were admitted to private lessons.” 
The little audience expressed themselves very 
much pleased with this legend, although sorry that 
the talks about home birds were ended. They did 
not doubt, however, that their governess had other 
pleasant things in store for them. 
“ Come and see some snow-birds,” said Miss Har- 
son one cold afternoon in December ; and the chil- 
dren all ran at the invitation, wondering how large 
the flock would be. 
