everal attitudes,
ending each new movement with a solemn bow, perhaps equivalent to a
handshake among larger fighters. What one did the other exactly copied,
and both seemed to be trying to get one side of the opponent, so as to
secure some advantage. To prevent this, each kept his face to the foe,
and moved as he moved. Thus they passed down one side, then back, down
the other and return, neither able to get the slightest superiority of
position. It was extremely grotesque, and was continued several
minutes, while I eagerly watched to see what would happen next. What did
happen was entirely unexpected, a unique anti-climax, quite worthy of
the undignified character of the bird. On a sudden, as by one consent,
both flew opposite ways; both alighted in low trees about thirty feet
apart, and each one sang a loud joyous song, as of victory!

In this turbulent way life went on for two or three weeks; I could not
tell how long, for it was in full progress when I came. There was always
a vulgar broil, often a furious encounter, stopping just short of coming
to blows, and it seemed really doubtful if the orioles would succeed in
settling their matrimonial affairs before summer. The third member of
the belligerent party, the demure little object of all this agitation,
was meekness and gentleness itself, never aggressive, but always flying
before the furious onslaught of her would-be spouse. Why then did she
not select her mate and thus end the trouble, which, according to the
books, it must do?

Turning away from the more conspicuous males with their endless
contests, and watching her closely, I saw that she was trying her best
to do so. She plainly preferred the younger and less quarrelsome suitor,
and often followed him off, bringing down upon herself in consequence
the wrath of the elder, and instant pursuit, which ended in the
disappearance of her chosen hero, and a forced endurance of the tyrant's
presence, till it appeared that she would have to "marry him to get rid
of him," as our plain-spoken grandmothers characterized a similar
situation in human affairs.

When these birds could spare time from their own absorbing matters, they
were very inquisitive in the affairs of their neighbors. After the
mocking-bird babies were out, the orioles often visited them, while the
parents were absent, for no reason that I could discover but to see what
they were like, and how they got on, for nothing about them was
disturbed. If, h