i

CHAPTER XXXII. .
' VANITY.
The King fisher and Nightingale.”

A-meeting once took place betwee a ©
kingfisher and a mocking-bird.* The latter,
being dressed in very plain feathers, at first »
felt a little humbled by the brilliant plumage
of his neighbour. The kingfisher, perceiving
the admiration of the mocking-bird, jerked
his tail and tossed his head, so as to show
off all the changing hues of his feathers to
great adyantage.

While this was going’on between the two
birds, a sportsman chanced to be passing
by, and seeing them, paused to watch: their
proceedings. Readily understanding the
scene, and disgusted with the conceit and

* The mocking-bird is a famous American songster, and
is perhaps equal in its song to the nightingale of Europe.