Has it ever seemed strange to you why Bobolink should have two suits of feathers so entirely different? Why, when he comes to us in the spring, should he wear a beautiful black and white costume, and in the fall put on his modest plumage of brown? It was not always so. The time was when Bobolink wore his best spring plumage all year round; but that, of course, was before his quarrel with Rough-leg. Rough-leg was one of the hawk family and was really the most agreeable of them. He had never been known to disturb the birds, but made his entire living by catching mice. No wonder, then, that he was greatly provoked when, after he had watched patiently for two hours in the hot sun with the vain hope of catching Meadow-mouse, he learned that the latter had been warned by Bobolink. Although generally good-natured, Rough-leg had a temper and he was very angry at Bobolink for poking his bill into other folks’ affairs. He was even heard to threaten to dine upon Bobolink instead of Meadow-mouse. This, of course, was alarming news to Bobolink, yet he never regretted saving Meadow-mouse, who had been one of his old neighbors for years. Nevertheless, he was greatly worried at the threat and went South to his winter home earlier than usual that year, for fear that Rough-leg would catch him. The next spring when he reached the Great Meadows again Bobolink supposed that the whole matter had been forgotten. But no. There, on exactly the same limb of the tall poplar, as if he had been waiting all winter, sat Rough-leg. Bobolink was so frightened that he did not stop at the Meadows, as had been his custom, but went straight North many miles even past his summer home. Rough-leg had kept his eyes shut and pretended not to see Bobolink when he arrived on the Meadows, but in reality he was only waiting for a good chance to get his claws upon him. So, of course, his disappointment was great when he opened his eyes, to find that Bobolink had gone. Somehow this only made him more determined, and he resolved to catch Bobolink if it took a year. To a bird a year is a very long time. Rough-leg knew that Bobolink would have to stop at the Great Meadow on his way south in the autumn, for there he must get his food supply. Rough-leg would wait for him. His feathers puffed out and his eyes blazed as he thought of revenge. At length the hot summer drew to a close, and Bobolink bethought himself of going South, for, of course, he could not remain where he was all winter. But he shuddered as he thought of Rough-leg. He must stop at the Great Meadows else he could get no food until he reached the rice lands.