BIRD STUDY 55 



the plumage and their surroundings that they 

 are quite protected. The Vireo family, dwellers 

 among the thick tops of maple, birch and elm, 

 have an olive green shade above and light colors 

 underneath that render them quite inconspic- 

 uous in their sunlit bowers. It is not so easy, 

 however, to recognize the relation which the 

 more brilliantly colored birds, as the Goldfinch, 

 Tanager, Indigo Bunting and the gayly dressed 

 Warblers, bear to their surroundings. 



That they are in a goodly degree protected 

 by their colors seems to be well known to 

 the birds themselves, for often they remain 

 quiet upon the nest until one is almost upon 

 them, no doubt believing they are safe because 

 so closely resembling their surroundings in 

 color. Not long ago when returning to Camp 

 Boulder from a morning's fishing, as we rowed 

 along shore, a pair of Blue Herons settled on a 

 marshy spot overgrown with rushes so near us 

 that we quite wondered at their boldness. But 

 almost instantly after lighting they became 

 quite inconspicuous from the blending of their 

 colors with the prevailing shades about them. 

 They evidently wxre conscious of the fact, for 

 close as we passed they did not take wing, 

 although so much have they been pursued by 

 the man with a gun they are usually difficult to 

 approach. This is a very interesting phase of 

 bird life and offers to the student opportunity 

 for much research. 



Nests. It is during the nesting season that 

 many birds come into the closest relationship 

 with mankind. Then it is that they seem to be 



