Basket Makers, the Vireo and Oriole 183 



The mother came only once, but she did not bring food. 

 She sat about in the cherry tree for a while and flew to 

 the branch over the nest, but did not go near her children. 

 It seemed to me this was rather negligent of the lady of 

 the house, but the father was doing well. He returned 

 every few minutes with food, so the children had their 

 meals. 



Next morning the mother did not appear once about 

 the home, and I became suspicious. We watched dur- 

 ing the whole afternoon, just because our curiosity was 

 aroused, but she did not return. The father was alone. 

 That night a heavy rain blew up. The three young birds 

 were partly feathered, and we feared the father would 

 not hover them. When we went out with a lantern our 

 expectations were realized, and we tried to tie a roof over 

 the nest. In the morning the young birds were dead, for 

 the water had run down the branches and chilled them 

 to death. The father was there with food, but to no avail. 

 And the mother, where she was I do not know. 



During the nesting period a heavy rain creates havoc 

 among bird homes. I've seen half a dozen different fam- 

 ihes of young birds killed by a heavy shower. And how 

 many more there must be that we do not see. If the 

 nest contains eggs or very young birds, the mother will 

 hover them and protect her babies from the water. But 

 when the birds are half feathered out she in many cases 

 no longer hovers them, for they are able to keep them- 

 selves warm. 



I have never known just what to think of this pair 

 of orioles, but I know from experience that birds are often 

 fickle. I know of an instance where a newly mated pair 



