ber

IT looked like a crow's nest to Jim, so he flew toward the pine tree and
lit upon a branch close by. One glance told him that at some time it
really must have been the home of birds of his kind, who for some reason
had abandoned it long ago. The nest was large and bulky, being made of
strong sticks woven together with fine roots and grasses. It was rough
outside, but smooth inside, and when Jim Crow had kicked out the dead
leaves and twigs that had fallen into it, he decided it was nearly as
good as new, and plenty good enough for a solitary crow like him to live
in. So with his bill he made a mark on the nest, that every bird might
know it belonged to him, and felt that at last he had found a home.

During the next few days he made several attempts to get acquainted with
the other birds, but they were cold and distant, though very polite to
him; and none of them seemed to care for his society.

No bird ever came near his nest, but he often flew down to the lower
trees and perched upon one or another of them, so gradually the birds of
the forest got used to seeing him around, and paid very little attention
to his actions.

One day Mrs. Wren missed two brown eggs from her nest, and her little
heart was nearly broken with grief. It took the mocking bird and the
bullfinch a whole afternoon to comfort her, while Mr. Wren hopped around
in nearly as much distress as his wife. No animals had been seen in the
forest who would do this evil thing, so no one could imagine who the
thief might be.

Such an outrage was almost unknown in this pleasant forest, and it made
all the birds nervous and fearful. A few days later a still greater
horror came upon them, for the helpless young children of Mrs. Linnet
were seized one morning from their nest, while their parents were absent
in search of food, and were carried away bodily. Mr. Linnet declared
that on his way back to his nest he had seen a big black monster leaving
it, but had been too frightened to notice just what the creature looked
like. But the lark, who had been up very early that morning, stated that
he had seen no one near that part of the forest except Jim Crow, who had
flown swiftly to his nest in the tall pine-tree.

This was enough to make all the birds look upon Jim Crow with grave
suspicion, and Robin Redbreast called a secret meeting of all the birds
to discuss the question and decide what must be done to preserve their
nests from the robber. Jim Crow was s