A Cowbird's Nursery 



151 



who in turn would raise herself and pass it to the young; the careful cleansing 

 of the nest; and many other intimate details of the birds' loving and happy lives. 

 When I drew aside the leaves that sheltered the nest and allowed the sun to 

 shine upon it for purposes 

 of photography, the 

 mother, realizing with that 

 wonderful instinct com- 

 mon to all birds which 

 nest in the shade, the fatal 

 effect on her babies of the 

 sun's direct rays, would 

 take her stand on the edge 

 of the nest and with out- 

 stretched wings would 

 form of her own bod\' a 

 living shield for the com- 

 fort and protection of her 

 young. Although herself 

 in evident distress from 

 the heat, and with parted 

 mandibles continually 

 gasping for air, she would 

 remain in this position as 

 long as the sun shone upon 

 her, only stepping aside 

 occasionally when a well- 

 known signal announced 

 that her husband had ar- 

 rived with a meal for the little ones. It was a beautiful picture of parental devoticm. 

 As the young birds began to grow, the Cowbird not only maintained but 

 rapidlv increased its lead over its small nest-mate. At every visit of the parent 

 bird with food, its capacious gullet could be seen violently waving aloft and 

 almost completely hiding the feeble little mouth of the Warbler, whose owner 

 was pathetically doing his best in a dumb appeal for food. The Cowbird's appe- 

 tite seemed never to be satiated and, unlike most nestlings, which relapse after 

 a meal and give their brethren the ne.xt chance, he seemed ready for every fresh 

 opportunity; and by reason of his superior display he usually succeeded in obtain- 

 ing the coveted morsel. However, the young Warbler did manage to get an occa- 

 sional portion, and I had strong hopes that he might reach maturity. For I 

 realized that a Chestnut-sided Warbler's usual laying is about five eggs, and that 

 therefore some four eggs must have been made to give place to the two Cowbird's. 

 Hence the young Cowbird in the nest might reasonably be granted the room and 

 food of four young Warblers. More than this I hoped he was not getting. 



FEMALE CHESTNUT-SIDE SHIELDING YOUNG 

 FROM SUN 



