Immediately after it there would be a loose twitter: "Chuk-chuk-chuk-chuk,"—so soft and low, it seemed it must be very near. Usually it brought another song from the cardinal, and presently he would appear with a morsel for Mrs. Cardinal, who had a favorite perch in our little pear tree. I soon learned that the twitter was her response to his call. The winsome sight of seeing him feed her repaid me for all the money I spent for peanuts at thirteen cents the pound.
The pair began now to frequent the ravine more than usual. On its edge lay a log from which the outer bark had been removed. Here the cardinals were often to be seen, peeling and tearing off strips of wood-fiber, which they bore away in long flowing streamers.
One morning Mrs. Cotton came in. "Here is news for you," she said. "The red bird and a greenish bird are making a nest in my syringa bush."
The birds went on with their nesting for several days. Then Mrs. Cotton came over again, looking sad. The birds were carrying away all their nesting material, she said. They had probably seen the cat, had become alarmed for the safety of their home, and so changed its location.
The cardinal had several songs. One was:
d d whoit whoit whoit"
e e
a a
"Whit whit r r
