OCR Text |
Show FEATHERED LOVBR9, Th Male long lilrd Biaules ills Ladys Wants. A cists of lovers (hat may well be ronsldetad la that of which tho bluebird blue-bird Is one conspicuous example and the goldfinch, another the dies In which ths females do all the rk of nest-bulldltiK, whllo the mains dovote themselves to singing, ssys the t'hsu-tauquan. t'hsu-tauquan. At first thought these msles aro so very much like some men that we all know men who aro predy and aro given (o compliments and who are enabled lo dress well (hroiigli tho wisdom wis-dom snd labor of their wives that I hey are slightingly spoken of by neur-ly neur-ly all students of bird habits. Kven the gorgeous Haltlmorn oriole Is but half complimented, for he only occ. sliiiinlly helps at the nesl-uinklng. Hut let tho observer consider the cases of these birds a llttlo further snd It sp-peurs sp-peurs that tho orlulo, at least. Is deserving de-serving of sympathy nil her thnu faint praise. No one cun watch tho oriole lady at her knitting for any length of time without seeing her good man try lo help. Ilo will bring uinollilng and offer to weave It In, but tha chances are that the madam will llret order hltu off nnd then, If he persists, muke a dash at him with her bill tbnt sends him mourning to another tree. Ha really mourns, too, though In sllonoo. I havo known of a cuse whero a male oriole sat watching his wife for a bait hour without singing a slngls note. Tha ! bluebird, too, is often treated very brusquely hy his Utile better hulf. Tbe truth la Iho poor fellows who have been derided for singing In Idle delight de-light while their wives lolled are not a llttlo henpecked. The goldfinch cannot can-not be called henpecked but be certainly certain-ly doea not deserve censure. Madam builds ber nest because she can do It better than ho can. That bo would like to help Is perfectly plain to one who watches, for he goes with her aa sho flies away for mulerlal, sits by ber as she picks It up and flies back with her as she returns to tho nest to weave It In. And wherever he goea ha bubbles bub-bles over with song. People who blame tha males for not helping to build do not understand, I think, the difference between work as we see tt and work as birds see II. To us labor la drudgery; drudg-ery; to the birds It Is delightful play. |