A BIRD IN THE HAND. 



109 



often remained in the nest until I came very near. I 

 knew him at once by his retracted head and angry 

 eyes. The female's head was always extended to see 

 what I was bringing her, 

 and her eyes were intelli- 

 gent and gentle. 



He was a true barbarian, 

 I fear, but I learned to re- 

 spect him thoroughly. He 

 defended his home and 

 family as well as he could, 

 and he was extremely ac- 

 tive, a little later, in feeding 

 the young. I told my 

 friends, of course, of the 

 rare friendship which I had 

 formed, and several came 

 to see the vireo eat from 

 my hand. Not only did 

 their presence under the 



tree seem to make no difference in her appetite, but 

 when one of them climbed the ladder I had to admit 

 that she took food from his hand as readily as she 

 had from mine. At no time did she discriminate 

 between her admirers. Any one who brought black 

 ants was welcome. 



On the twenty-eighth of May I put her courage to 



Fig. 21. — Yellow-throated Vireo. 



