119 



camera was covered with a green cloth and plentifully 

 sprinkled with leaves so as to attract as little attention as 

 possible, but undoubtedly it looked to the Veeries bigger 

 than a house would to us. 



Both birds were away while I was getting in readiness. 

 Upon their return they were greatly astonished to see a 

 strange affair standing so near their home. They talked to 

 each other about it. in low tones, for several minutes and 

 then flew away. In about ten minutes thev returned, talk- 



Fig. 102. VEERY OX NEST. 



ed some more and went off again. Evidently they thought 

 the camera was something that would remove its unwelcome 

 presence after awhile and they were going to wait for it to 

 go. 



Just twice during the three days that I was present while 

 the nest contained egg^. did the owner visit it, that is to 

 actually alight ujDon the nest. Upon developing the first 

 exposure, the nest and eggs appeared beautifully but there 

 was not a trace of the ^^eery although she was standing on 

 the edge of the nest when I pressed the bulb. The second 



