NESTING EPISODES NEAR HOME iii 



The idea came to me to try to depict her tameness, 

 so I made ready for an exposure, and, holding the 

 bulb in one hand, touched her with the index finger 

 of the other. Instead of flying off in terror, she 

 actually pecked the intruding member. I was all the 

 time very gentle with her, and presently I found that 

 I could do anything with her that I wished. Next I 

 stroked her, then raised her up a little, and finally 

 took her in my hand and lifted her off the nest. Not 

 only did she' make no effort to escape, but perched 

 tamely on my fingers, and then hopped back to 

 cover her young. Of all these events I secured pic- 

 tures. 



Twice the brilliant scarlet and black male returned 

 with food for her. Had I not been there, he might 

 have come to the nest to feed her, but as it was she 

 flew up to him in the tree, where he fed and caressed 

 her and then departed, after scolding me a bit. On 

 another occasion she flew off, but came back in a mo- 

 ment with her mouth full of soft, regurgitated food, 

 which she fed to the young, unabashed, though I 

 stood there on the ladder within easy reach of her. 

 I even touched her as she did this, without alarming 

 her at all. 



My last " stunt " was to dig some worms and 

 grubs In the garden and feed them to her as she sat on 

 the nest. She took them gratefully and with alacrity. 

 The family In an adjoining house, from a window 

 about fifteen feet away, watched and enjoyed the 

 tanager family. When I took the train home that 



