with vegetable downs. The female is a close sitter, sticking to her post even 

 though nearly paralyzed with fear. The male is usually in close attendance 

 and knows no way of discouraging the inquisitive bird-man save by singing with 

 redoubled energy. He takes his turn at the eggs when the wife needs a bit of 

 an airing, and even, it is said, carries liis song with him to the nest. 



The vireos are frequent victims of the cowbird. The birds seem to realize 

 the imposition that is being practiced upon them, but are not able to eject the 

 foreign egg. Sometimes a false bottom is constructed to hide the bastard product, 

 and sometimes the tainted nest is deserted outright. One such I found which 

 contained only a single cowbird's egg, and that punctured by the outraged vireo. 



Bob White 



By Daniel M. Henderson 



I heard them greet the peep of dawn 



From every bush and tree : 

 Blackbird, bluebird, robin, wren. 



Jay, thrasher, chickadee : 

 Then I heard, from his retreat 

 Somewhere in the corn or wheat, 



Bob \\'hite welcoming the morning 

 And J thought his song more sweet : 

 "Bob White! Bob White!" 



\A"as that note of bird or sprite, 

 Bob White? 



I have listened in the shadows 



To the haunting whippoorwill, 

 I have heard the rapturous mocker. 



Oh. a wealth of sweetness spill ! 

 Yet not these to-day I hear. 

 But one sound stayed in my ear — 



Just the quail's full-throated whistle, 

 Just his double note of cheer : 

 "Bob White! Bob White!" 



May no gun your fluting blight — 

 Bob White ! 



561 



