14 BIRDS. 
liarly expressive of horror and dismay, rushing about 
a low clump of grass and bushes. Then, looking more 
closely, [ saw the glistening form of the black snake, 
and the quick movement of his head as he tried to 
seize the birds. The sparrows darted about and 
through the grass and weeds, trying to beat the 
snake off. Their tails and wings were spread, and, 
panting with the heat and the desperate struggle, they 
presented a most singular spectacle. They uttered no 
ery, not a sound escaped them; they were plainly 
speechless with horror and dismay. Not once did 
they drop their wings, and the peculiar expression 
of those uplifted palms, as it were, I shall never 
forget. It occurred to me that perhaps here was a 
ease of attempted bird-charming on the part of the 
snake, so I looked on from behind the fence. The 
birds charged the snake and harassed him from every 
side, but were evidently under no spell save that of 
courage in defending their nest. Every moment or 
two I could sée the head and neck of the serpent 
make a sweep at the birds, when the one struck at 
would fall back, and the other would renew the as- 
sault from the rear. There appeared to be little dan- 
ger that the snake could strike and hold one of the 
birds, though I trembled for them, they were so bold 
and approached so near to the snake’s head. Time 
and again he sprang at them, but without success. 
How the poor things panted, and held up their wings 
appealingly! Then the snake glided off to the near 
fence, barely escaping the stone which I huried at 
him. I found the nest rifled and deranged; whether 
it had contained eggs or young I know not. The 
male sparrow had cheered me many a day with his 
song, and I blamed myself for not having rushed at 
