ingbird cradle. He paused, cast a wary glance about, then
dropped to a lower perch, his singing ended, his manner guilty. Nearer
and nearer he drew, looking cautiously about and moving in perfect
silence. Still the owner did not come, and at last the stranger stood
upon the edge. What joy! He looked that mansion over from foundation to
banner fluttering in the wind; he examined closely its construction;
with head turned over one side, he criticised its general effect, and
apparently did not think much of it; he gratified to the full his
curiosity, and after about one minute's study flew to the next tree, and
resumed his singing.

The next arrival was a pewee, whose own nest was nearly built, in a
wild-cherry tree not far off. The fence under the oak was his usual
perch, and it was plain that he made his first call with "malice
aforethought;" for, disdaining the smallest pretense of interest in it,
he flew directly to the nest, hovered beneath it, and pulled out some
part of the building material that pleased his fancy,--nothing less than
pure thievery.

Among the occasional visitors to the yard were two American goldfinches,
or thistle-birds, in bright yellow and black plumage, both males. They
also went to the new homestead in the oak, inspected it, chatted over it
in their sweet tones, and then passed on. It began to look as though the
nest were in the market for any one to choose, and the string of company
was not yet ended.

Soon after the goldfinches had passed by, there alighted a gay Baltimore
oriole, who, not content with looking at the new castle in the air, must
needs try it. He actually stepped into the nest and settled down as if
sitting. Who knows but he was experimenting to see if this simple,
wide-open cradle wouldn't do as well for oriole babies as for kingbirds?
Certainly it was a curious performance. It made an impression on him
too, for the next day he came again; and this time he picked at it, and
seemed to be changing its interior arrangement, but he carried nothing
away when he flew. Even after sitting began, this oriole paid two more
visits to the nest which so interested him. On the first occasion, the
owner was at home, and gave him instant notice that the place was no
longer on view. He retired, but, being no coward, and not choosing to
submit to dictation, he came again. This time, a fly-up together, a
clinch in the air, with loud and offensive remarks, cured him of further
desire to call.