44 Bird - Lore
fountain. The upshot of these observations was that they must have some Bluebirds to catch the insects in their own gardens.
Without help or suggestion, a stick from the wood-pile and a discarded bird-house were brought into requisition, toggled together with many crippled nails, 21 hole dug and a house erected.
As if at bidding again, Bluebirds built in the new house. I am inclined to think they were the same pair. but, as we had ceased to feed at the win- dow»sill, I am not certain. The brood of four hatched the seventeenth of July and flew the second of August How this brood happened to ap- pear as you see them in the next pictures requires a word of explanation.
A cold driving rain-storm prevailed the entire day. and, as I went down the path with my umbrella, I heard the note of a young Bluebird in dis- tress. Wet and cold, he was perched on one of the lower branches of the cherry tree, and as I passed underI stopped a moment to look him over, when the most unexpected thing happened that has ever fallen to my lot. He deliberately Hitted from his perch to the shelter of my umbrella and lighted in the hollow of my elbow. I took him into the house and fed him with mealworms. giving him a warm place by the kitchen stove.
On my return an hour later, I found two Bluebirds in my day nursery, and learned that the second little voyager had flown plump against our din- ing-room window and had not knocked in vain. The other two were still in the box—all but their wet little heads—crying loudly for food. I had not seen a parent bird and did not see one about the nest the entire day. I took some mealworms down and tried to feed them in the nest. but on my approach they withdrew from the entrance and paid no heed to worms I dangled in the doorway. I was about to leave them to their fate when an idea happened to strike me at the right moment, and I gave the Bluebird
. whistle. Instantly the entrance was occupied by two gaping mouths, which
THREE BIRDS IN THE HAND
