se occupied the topmost twig of the tree on which his family was in
trouble, uttering at short intervals his musical cry of distress, one
rich, loud note.

I did, however, on one occasion see a male bluebird excited in the
defense of his young. It was in North Carolina, where a nestling chanced
to alight on the favorite resting-place of a mocking-bird, and the
latter a moment afterward came to his usual perch not a foot from the
wild-eyed youngster. Then arose a great outcry from both bluebirds, and
one after the other swooped down at that mocking-bird, coming so near I
thought they must hit him. Again and again they returned to the charge
with loud cries, while the mocking-bird stood quiet, crouched as though
to dash into the little one, and jerking wings and tail in a wicked
manner. It lasted but a moment, for the nestling itself was scared and
flew to another branch, upon which the attack came to an end, and the
mother went to the baby, but the father stood on a perch near the enemy,
and scolded for some time.

Perhaps this individual bluebird had learned to assist in the family
defense, for they had other troubles. The nest was in an unsafe spot,
the hollow dead limb of a tall pine-tree, about seventy feet above the
ground. The opening was in the lower side of the sloping branch, making
it very easy for a nestling to fall out, and that is what I think
happened the day before the little scene above described.

Hearing cries of distress from the pine grove, I hastened down to see if
I could be of any assistance. Both bluebirds were on a low tree, about a
foot apart, uttering constantly the mournful notes I had heard.
Evidently a tragedy of some sort had occurred, and I thought at once of
a falling little one. I looked carefully around the tree while the
parents came down near me, much disturbed. I found nothing, but a gale
was blowing and a little bird might easily have been driven far away. It
was a serious matter plainly, for the cries went on without intermission
the rest of the day.

During that time I saw a curious and interesting attempt at consolation
on the part of the male. He flew away, and returned in a few moments
with something in his beak. Alighting near his mate, he began a low,
tender twitter, at the same time offering the morsel to her. She moved a
few inches away; he followed, still coaxing. She flew to another branch,
refusing to look at it. He followed, still asking her to accept it. At
last sh