We have spent a most prosperous six
months in Southern New Jersey, and are
returning to the north, which is our
breeding ground, with a firm determina-
tion to make our number one thousand
strong before we fly south."

" Good, good," cried a number of
voices, " We will," piped an old
grandpa, at the top of the tree. " Little
you'll do about it," squawked a dozen
young and gallant grackles, " Order,
gentlemen," piped the chairman, " Do
not interrupt your secretary,"

" It is the opinion of all of our com-
pany that the libelous charges made by
many ornithologists, that the grackles steal



JWtttfl mo mhont ttCottiftifl 111

the eggs and even eat the young of other
birds is hereby stoutly disputed as an in-
famous falsehood, that merely shows the
ignorance of the learned gentlemen. If
it is not too strong language, your secre-
tary hereby characterizes ornithologists
as red-nosed, goggle-eyed, old fools, who
couldn't fly if they had wings, and whose
eggs would not hatch even if they were
smart enough to lay them."

This sally so pleased the female grackles
that their piping and squawking drowned
the voice of the secretary, and it was
several seconds before the chairman could
restore order.
