ey didn't mind.

Mr. Catbird was always prankish and full of spirits. And feeling all
ready for a lark one morning and not knowing what else to do, he decided
to visit the meadow and play a trick on Bobby Bobolink and his wife.

So when the Bobolinks were away from home on a short trip Mr. Catbird
flew to their end of the meadow and hid in a bush not far from the spot
where they had built their nest on the ground.

From his hiding place Mr. Catbird watched closely. And soon he saw Mrs.
Bobolink, followed shortly by her husband, come skimming across the
meadow and settle down in the grass.

Well, Mr. Catbird was so delighted with the trick he was about to play
on them that first he spread his feathers, and then he tucked them close
about his slim body, while he bobbed about on the branch where he sat,
giving his tail a flirt now and then as if he were so amused that he
simply couldn't keep still.

After spending some minutes in that fashion Mr. Catbird peeped out of
his bush again and began what he expected would be a perfect imitation
of one of Bobby Bobolink's songs. But somehow there seemed to be
something wrong. They were very strange notes that he uttered. And the
moment she heard them Mrs. Bobolink said aloud to her husband, "What in
the world is that queer call? I never heard anything like it in all my
days!"

Bobby Bobolink couldn't tell her. And since they had no idea who was
lurking near their home nor exactly where he was, they kept quite still,
hidden as they were by the tall grasses.

Mr. Catbird had heard what they said. And he was slightly upset, for he
had intended that they should think there was a strange Bobolink in the
meadow.

"I'll have to try again," he said to himself. "Next time I'll do
better."

XIV

FRIGHTENING MRS. BOBOLINK

Not knowing who gave the strange cry near their home, Bobby Bobolink and
his wife held their breaths and waited. They never dreamed that it was
their good friend, Mr. Catbird, hidden in a bush near-by, who was trying
to imitate one of Bobby's songs.

Meanwhile that fun-loving fellow smiled broadly to himself. And giving
his tail an upward toss he opened his mouth once more, only to give
voice to one of the oddest sounds that was ever heard in Pleasant
Valley.

Mr. Catbird knew right away that he hadn't caught the trick of mocking
Bobby Bobolink. So he stopped short.

"I wonder what's the matter with me," he murmured. "Can it be that I've
caught