148 BULLETIN 196, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



perched at the tip of a small dead tree stub in an open situation where 

 he was readily observed from the blind. Whenever there was an 

 accidental noise or disturbance inside the blind to arouse his suspicions 

 he would utter a chuck, chuck call accompanied by a characteristic 

 sudden up-tilting and slow lowering of his tail. 



The hermit is a wary bird, and during the first few days I spent in 

 the blind the least provocation caused the bird to leave the nest with 

 a whir of wings. But in the course of a few minutes after each such 

 disturbance she flew back to a place within a few yards of the nest 

 and from that point approached with caution, frequently stopping at 

 some elevated knoll carefully to scrutinize the surroundings. She 

 then crept close to the ground under cover of the vegetation, her 

 progress being made known by the rustling of the leaves. She often 

 took a circuitous route and when near sometimes circled about the 

 nest on wing suspended in' hummingbird fashion. Again after 

 alighting she went along stealthily in a series of hops and when finally 

 assured all was well went confidently to the nest. She adjusted the 

 eggs with her bill and then settled on them, moving her body back 

 and forth until the feathers of the breast were separated, permitting 

 the eggs to come in direct contact with her warm body. This adjust- 

 ment is repeated several times and not until it meets with her com- 

 plete satisfaction does she settle down to the arduous task of incuba- 

 tion. The raised feathers of the neck and back then fall back to their 

 normal position, the tips of the primaries are crossed over the rump, 

 and the bill assumes an upward tilt. She is then motionless and her 

 soft brown colors blend so into the lights and shadows of the sur- 

 roundings that she is practically hidden from view. The eggs are 

 turned at frequent intervals during the course of the day. From time 

 to time the male, who seemed even more cautious than his mate, would 

 timidly approach the nest, announcing his coming with a wee call. 

 With a look of apparent admiration and devotion he delivered some 

 choice insect or larvae in commendation of a task well done. Some- 

 times instead of bringing food he carried nesting material. This was 

 graciously received by the female who merely cast it to one side of the 

 nest. This behavior is of frequent occurrence among certain groups 

 of birds such as the herons, gallinules, and hawks, but I have never 

 before noted this behavior, a response to an emotional urge, exhibited 

 in the Turdidae. 



Once a red-eyed vireo unwittingly alighted in the small tree under 

 which the nest was located. The male immediately uttered his war 

 cry and dashed at the unwelcome intruder. He was joined by his 

 mate and both birds chased the vireo into the dense woodland beyond. 

 At another time a red squirrel making his way through the grass and 

 vines passed within 2 feet of the nest, but strangely enough his ap- 



