i82 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



Often, as a means of escaping observation, a 

 bird will remain absolutely motionless, the eyes 

 not even blinking. Even birds which are not pro- 

 tectively colored are difficult to see, as long as they 

 stay still. Of course, birds which are in sharp 

 disharmony with their surroundings like a Black 

 Skimmer on its nest in the sand, do not risk the 

 test of staying motionless but fly away as soon 

 as danger approaches. 



In this case, however, unlike the Chuck- Will 's- 

 Widow, the Mother Thrush was easily seen even 

 though her white breast with black spots was en- 

 tirely hidden by the nest. Her russet back made 

 a spot of color, which, once seen, could not be lost 

 sight of. Still though she was, her black bill and 

 glistening, beady eyes betrayed her. 



There is but one way to win a bird's confidence 

 and that is by gentle, but not stealthy movements. 

 Shan meant to photograph that bird on her nest, 

 even if he spent all his spare time in the next two 

 weeks trying to do it. On that his will was set. 

 So, sliding softly to the ground, about twelve feet 

 from the nest, the boy lay quiet, not fixing his 

 eyes steadily on the bird but allowing his glance to 

 rove. 



Only trained bird-observers are aware how 



