"A pa-pa, is it?" exclaimed Bridget, attracted by the bird's manner to approach the nest. "From watchin' these little crathers it do same I'm afther understandin' bird talk and bird-ways most like the misthress herself," and with one big red finger she gently pushed the angry Mrs. Wren aside and took a peep at the new born bird. "Howly mither!" said she, retreating in deep disgust, "ov all the skinny, ugly little bastes! Shure and its all head and no tail, with niver a feather to kiver its nakedness. It's shamed I'd be, Mr. Wren, to father an ugly crather loike that, so I would," and Bridget, who had an idea that young birds came into the world prepared at once to fly, shook her head sadly, and went into the house to inform the family of the event. One by one the children peeped into the nest and all agreed with Bridget that it was indeed a very ugly little birdling which lay there. "Wish I could take it out, mama," said Dorothy, "and put some of my doll's clothes on it. It is such a shivery looking little thing." "Ugh!" exclaimed Walter, "what are those big balls covered with skin on each side of its head; and when will it look like a bird, mama?" "Those balls are its eyes," she laughingly replied, "which will open in about five days. The third day you will perceive a slate-colored down or fuzz upon its head. On the fourth its wing feathers will begin to show. On the seventh the fuzz will become red-brown feathers on its back and white upon its breast. The ninth day it will fly a little way, and on the twelfth will leave its nest for good." "An' its a foine scholard ye's are, to be shure, mum," said Bridget in open-mouthed admiration. "Whoiver 'ud hev thought a mite ov a crather loike that 'ud be afther makin' so interesthing a study. Foreninst next spring, God willin," she added, "its meself, Bridget O'Flaherty, as will be one ov them same." "One of them same what?" inquired her mistress laughingly. "Horn-ith-owl-ogists, mum," replied Bridget, not without much difficulty, and with a flourish of her fine red arms and a triumphant smile upon her round face, Bridget returned to her kitchen and work again. [TO BE CONTINUED] ---- SUMMARY. ---- Page 126. OVENBIRD--_Seiurus aurocapellus._ Other names: "The Teacher," "Wood Wagtail," "Golden Crowned Accentor." RANGE--United States to Pacific Slope. NEST--On the ground, oven-shape. EGGS--Three to six, white or creamy white, glossy, spotted. ---- Page 130. ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER--_Picoides arcticus._ Other name: "Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker." RANGE--Northern North America, south to northern border of the United States, and farther on high mountain ranges. In the mountains of the west (Sierra Nevada, etc.) south to about 39°, where it breeds. NEST--In dead trees, not more than five or six feet from the ground. EGGS--Four to six, pure ivory white. ---- Page 134.