138 



Bird - Lore 



In an old-time garden a scarecrow 

 was set up to keep the Blackbirds from 

 the sprouting corn, and the Wrens, who 

 had for years built in the water-spout, 

 began to carry sticks up under the hat, 

 only to have them fall to the ground 

 every time the wind spun the hat 

 around on the stake. I made the hat 

 secure and built a platform of string 

 under the brim. So nest-building was 

 resumed on a firm foundation, and it 

 was nearly completed when one of them 

 found an opening in the sleeve of the 

 scarecrow and went in to investigate. 

 Soon it came out, flew away, and re- 

 turned with the mate. At once both 

 disappeared inside. When they came 

 out, it was all settled, and building began. 



"ONE OF THEM FOUND W (M'I.Xi\(; 

 IN THE SLEE\E 



anew. Six speckled eggs turned into 

 six brown baby Wrens, and then there 

 were busy times in the old garden, 

 keeping them fed and cared for; but 

 I noticed that the old ones managed to 

 find time for an occasional promenade 

 around the brim of the hat, and to sit 

 for a moment up on top and give vent 

 to their happiness in song. Their curi- 

 osity caused them to examine my 

 camera, creeping under the bellows, 

 balancing on the rubber tube, and, 

 from a position on the lens-rack, peer- 

 ing over at the front construction, 

 even working down the tripod legs to 

 the ground. 



On another occasion I took an old 

 satchel, made a small hole in it, and 

 hung it in a pear tree in the garden. 



WOULD WALK DAINTILY OVER THE 

 EDGE TO THEIR DOOR 



