AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. 
189 
their wives have laid their eggs, the lords and 
masters ’ leave them, and go off together in the 
woods, where they do nothing hut enjoy them- 
selves, and do not join their ladies until the 
young ones are grown and able to provide for 
themselves ; not one moment’s care do they 
have, but they leave all the responsibility of 
the family to their mates. Such scandalous 
conduct is almost enough to make one ashamed 
of being a bird.” 
Here the little lady gave her wings an 
indignant flutter. Mrs. Towhee said nothing, 
but the look she gave her friend was full of 
applause. 
And those gaudy fellows, the Summer 
Ducks,” continued Mrs. Golden Crown, who, 
when she began, like all the ladies, loved to 
dwell upon the imperfections of the opposite 
sex, how little care do they give themselves 
about their families ! I have often pitied that 
poor female, who had her nest in the old stump 
by the mill-pond, and tried to get her to rebel ; 
but she didn’t have the courage, but took her 
husband’s neglect as a matter of course, and 
