AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. 
206 
Probably, if the Towhees had been near, 
they might have answered him, for his man- 
ner was highly arrogant ; but, like sensible 
birds, they were attending to their affairs, and 
were busy at work on their nest. The other 
birds that were listening did not answer him, 
for, although they knew he was a vain boaster 
and silly fellow, they did not wish to incur his 
enmity, for he could be very sarcastic and 
insultiDg ; and, moreover, they were receiving 
considerable amusement from his conceited 
words. 
Eeceiving no answer. Bob, after shaking his 
feathers and making himself look as sleek as 
possible, continued his harangue. 
No one, my friends, can say aught against 
me with truth, and no one does, save one pair 
of low-lived birds that I am about to describe 
'to you.” 
Here some of his listeners left abruptly, for 
they knew of the remarks the Towhees had 
made on the day before, and supposed that he 
referred to them ; they were their personal 
friends, and were unwilling to hear them 
