Page:Story of the robins.djvu/151

Rh to see him disturb his temper and ruffle his feathers for such an insignificant creature; but he told her it was particularly necessary as an example to his nestlings, as mimicry was a fault to which young birds were too apt to incline, and he wished to show them the danger they exposed themselves to in the practice of it.

The whole redbreast family rested themselves for some time, and whilst they sat still they observed a chaffinch flying from tree to tree, chattering to every bird he had any knowledge of; and his discourse seemed to affect his hearers greatly, for they perceived some birds flying off in great haste, and others meeting them; many battles and disputes ensued. The little redbreasts wondered at these circumstances; at length Pecksy inquired the meaning of the bustle. "This chaffinch," replied the father, "is a tell-tale; it is inconceivable the mischief he makes. Not that he has so much malice in his nature, but he loves to hear himself chatter; and therefore every anecdote he can collect he tells to all he meets, by which means he often raises quarrels and animosities; neither does he stop here, for he frequently invents the tales he relates."

As the redbreast was speaking, the chaffinch alighted on the same tree. "Oh, my old friend,"