. A-birding on a bronco . litted up thetree a branch higher after each repetition of hisloud cheery tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whit, his pretty mate, with bits of stick inher bill, walked down a crack in the oak trunk. Thinking she had gone, I went to examine theplace. I poked about with a twig but could ntfind the nest till, down in the bottom of the crack,I spied a little gray head and a pair of brighteyes looking up at me. The bird started forwardas if to dart out, but changed her mind and stayedin while I took a hasty look and fled, more fright-ened than she by the intrusion. T
. A-birding on a bronco . litted up thetree a branch higher after each repetition of hisloud cheery tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whit, his pretty mate, with bits of stick inher bill, walked down a crack in the oak trunk. Thinking she had gone, I went to examine theplace. I poked about with a twig but could ntfind the nest till, down in the bottom of the crack,I spied a little gray head and a pair of brighteyes looking up at me. The bird started forwardas if to dart out, but changed her mind and stayedin while I took a hasty look and fled, more fright-ened than she by the intrusion. The titmice had been flying back and forthfrom the hen-yard with chickens feathers, and itseemed such slow work for them I thought Iwould help them. So the next day, when thepair were away, I stuffed a few white feathers 176 A-BIRDING ON A BRONCO. into the mouth of the nest and withdrew underthe shadow of the barn to watch through nryglass without being observed. Then my con-science began to trouble me. What if this inter-. The Plain Titmouse in her Doorway. ference should drive the gentle bird to desert hernest? When I heard the familiar chickadee call —the titmouse often chirrups like his cousin — itmade me quake guiltily. What would the birdsdo? The gray pair came flying in with crests HOW I HELPED BUILD A NEST. 177 raised, and my small friend hopped down to herdoorway. She gave a start of surprise at sight ofthe feathers, but after a moments hesitation wentbravely in ! While she was inside, her matewaited in the tree, singing for her ; and when shecame out, he flew away with her. Then I creptup to the oak, and to my delight found that allthe feathers had disappeared. She evidentlybelieved in taking what the gods provide. Infact, she seemed only to wish that they would pro-vide more, for, after taking a second supply fromme, she stood in the vestibule, cocked her crestedhead, and looked about as if expecting to see newtreasures. She had common-sense enough to take whatshe
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1896
