AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 17 



Upon finding her fondness for crumbs, we all gathered around the nest 

 and tried feeding her. She seemed to understand that we would not hurt 

 her, for as soon as we offered to feed her she did not hesitate in taking the 

 crumbs or insects. A few minutes after we succeeded in stroking her back 

 and breast. 



It was very funny to see the little birds' heads appear from all directions 

 as soon as a crumb thrown would strike the nest. Like all young birds, of 

 course, they were just as hungry when the mother was through feeding them 

 as before, and were we to keep them in food it would take us the greater part 

 of our time. 



We grew to be so friendly with our family that we wanted a photograph 

 of it, so a photographer was engaged to come up in a few days. 



At last the day came, and out to the nest we all went, camera and all. 

 And oh ! such a disappointment was in store for us. Not a single occupant 

 was there in the nest. 



A very much crestfallen party, we started back for the school house, 

 when one of the children shouted, "Here's one of the babies." We were de- 

 lighted to find that small part of the family. So we tried to capture him, 

 but not before two very angry Brown Thrashers were flying about us danger- 

 ously near. 



We caught him finally and decided to take his picture. I never saw a 

 more unwilling subject. He insisted on falling from the shrub where we 

 placed him, every time the camera was ready to "snap." At last when we 

 found that way would never do, I held the little fellow in my hand. We 

 got a picture, but not a very successful one probably. 



If one really wants to become acquainted with a very friendly family of 

 birds, I would suggest the Thrashers. They are very interesting in their 

 ways and will afford much pleasure to any real lover of birds. R. F. B. 



SOME INTERESTING HOMES. 

 By H. H. Dunn. 



Birds are so plentiful in California that we do not take more than passing 

 notice at least of the more common kinds. This year, however, I was espe- 

 cially interested in a pair of Quail, which nested in a large field, not far from 

 my home in Los Angeles. The field had not been touched with a plow for 

 several years, and this season it was not even used for cattle pasture, so it 

 became the home of countless Linnets, Sparrows, Horned Larks and other 

 ground-nesters, as well as this one pair of Quail. Where they came from I 

 do not know, for it is some six miles back to the oak-lined canyons, where 

 these birds are usually found. However, the owner of the lot protected them 

 from wandering boys and "Sunday hunters," who are the banes of our 



