NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Flying down, fluttering along near the ground, she artfully 

 feigned being injured in an attempt to attract and divert my 

 attention. I cut away carefully some of the branches which 

 obstructed the view of the little ones, 

 and then made one photo- 

 graphic exposure. On preparing 

 for the second picture, the topmost 

 V)aby bird, without the slightest 

 warning, made a headlong dive to the 

 ground. The bush containing the 

 f • nest and birds was one of a long 

 \y y row of black raspberry shrubs 

 and they obstructed the 

 view on the opposite side 

 where the bird fell. As 

 quickly as possible I made 

 haste to recover the little 

 adventurer. 



This attempt was not 

 a moment too soon, 

 for, to my amazement, 

 two large chickens, 

 which had noticed 

 the helpless bird, 

 rushed at it and vi- 

 ciously picked at the 

 tiny waif which by this 

 lime was crying loudly. 

 My endeavor at rescue 

 seemed only to annoy one 

 of the fowls which, having 

 grown bold, dashed in 

 Field Sparrow trith nest and unumj bird, ahead of me, and having 



j)ickod up the defenceless 

 bird in its bill, started off on a run with it. By this time a well- 

 aimed throw of my hat, which landed broadside near the chicken, 

 frightened it so that it drojjped its prey. The little l)ir(l was 

 found practically uninjured, tiiough had it remained nuich longer 

 in sight of these ravenous fowls it would undoubtedly have 



