191 



right. Ill this case the whole head, as shown by the lower 

 mandible, was oscillating about the upper mandible as an 

 axis. It is this rapid motion of little birds that spoils many 

 a photograph. 



On one occasion, the male vireo brought a large dragon- 



Fig. 163 

 time. 



He moved too quickly for the camera shutter this 



fly which he carefully prepared for nestling-food by di- 

 vesting it of wings and all but one leg. He then walked 

 along the branch and thrust it headfirst down the throat of 

 one of his children, leaving fully an inch of the body stick- 

 ing out of the little fellows mouth. I had supposed that 

 he would surely divide the fly into a portion for each and 

 was greatly astonished to see him feed such a large mor- 

 sel to such a small bird. The contortions of the little fel- 



