and each time
it was a white feather taken. On one occasion the kingbird was at home.
There was a sharp cry of distress, a bustle, and in a moment Madam
Oriole flew off with a feather, while the outraged owner stood on a
neighboring branch and uttered two or three plaintive cries. Considering
the size and the belligerent nature of the kingbird, I was astonished,
but exactly thus it happened.

I greatly wished to stay and see the result, for I had confidence enough
in the bravery of the kingbirds to be sure that the end was not yet.
Also, I longed to watch the restless pair whose ups and downs I had
found so interesting. I should like to see the orchard oriole in the
role of a father; a terribly fussy one he would be without doubt. Above
all, I most desired to see the infant orioles, to know if they begin
their quarrels in their narrow cradle, and if their first note is a
scold. But the troubles of this courtship had, like the wars of Augustus
and Arabella in a three-volume novel, consumed so much time that there
was none left for post-nuptial chronicles, and I was obliged to leave
them with a neighborhood quarrel on hand which promised full employment
for the head of the family while his little mate was sitting.

FLUTTERBUDGET.

O hark to the brown thrush! hear how he sings!
Now he pours the dear pain of his gladness!
What a gush! and from out what golden springs!
What a rage of how sweet madness!

D. A. WASSON.

VIII.

FLUTTERBUDGET.

"Flutterbudget" is the one expressive word that exactly characterizes a
certain brown thrush, or thrasher, the subject of a year's study. This
bird is perhaps the only restless creature that bears the name of
thrush, and he is totally unlike the rest of his family, having neither
dignity, composure, nor repose of manner. My brown thrush, however, was
exceedingly interesting in his own way, if only as a study of perpetual
motion, of the varieties of shape and attitude possible to him, and the
fantastic tricks upon wing of which he was capable. One never tired of
watching him, for he was erratic in every movement, always inventing
some new sort of evolution, or a fresh way of doing the old things, and
scarcely a moment at rest. A favorite exercise was flying across the
room, planting his feet flatly against the side wall, turning instantly
and flying back. This he often did a dozen times in succession. His
feet were always "used to save his he