which must have been the wren, as I know of no other bird that so throbs and palpitates with music as this little vagabond.  And the pair I speak of seemed exceptionally happy, and the male had a small tornado of song in his crop that kept him “ruffled” every moment in the day.  But before their honeymoon was over the bluebirds returned.  I knew something was wrong before I was up in the morning.  Instead of that voluble and gushing song outside the window, I heard the wrens scolding and crying at a fearful rate, and on going out saw the bluebirds in possession of the box.  The poor wrens were in despair; they wrung their hands and tore their hair, after the wren fashion, but chiefly did they rattle out their disgust and wrath at the intruders.  I have no doubt that, if it could have been interpreted, it would have proven the rankest and most voluble Billingsgate ever uttered.  For the wren is saucy, and he has a tongue in his head that can outwag any other tongue known to me.

The bluebirds said nothing, but the male kept an eye on Mr. Wren; and, when he came to near, gave chase, driving him to cover under the fence, or under a rubbish heap or other object, where the wren would scold and rattle away, while his pursuer sat on the fence or the pea-brush waiting for him to reappear.

Days passed, and the usurpers prospered and the outcasts were wretched; but the latter lingered about, watching and abusing their enemies, and hoping, no doubt, that things would take a turn, as they presently did.  The outraged wrens were fully avenged.  The mother bluebird had laid her full complement of eggs and was beginning to set, when one day, as her mate was perched above her on the barn, along came a boy with one of those wicked elastic slings and cut him down with a pebble.  There he lay like a bit of sky fallen upon the grass.  The widowed bird seemed to understand what had happened, and without much ado disappeared next day in quest of another mate.  How she contrived to make her wants known, without trumpeting them about, I am unable to say.  But I presume that birds have a way of advertising that answers the purpose well.  Maybe she trusted to luck to fall in with some stray bachelor or bereaved male who would undertake to console a widow or one day’s standing.  I will say, in passing, that there are no bachelors from choice among the birds; they are all rejected suitors, while old maids are entirely unknown.  There is a Jack to every Jill; and some to boot.

The males, being more exposed by their song and plumage, and by being the pioneers in migrating, seem to be slightly in excess lest the supply fall short, and hence it sometimes happens that a few are bachelors perforce; there are not females enough to go around, but before the season is over there are sure to be some vacancies in the marital ranks, which they are called on to fill.