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to create an insane rage, or terrible excitement or fright on the part of 

 the victims, causing them to act in a manner we do not observe at 

 other times, when in imminent danger of destruction. It may be that 

 the affected birds, or other creatures, realize their danger more forcibly, 

 and destruction more certain, as the snake approaches stealthily and 

 quietly, while they feel powerless to defend themselves, and merely 

 become intensely excited in an effort to drive the intruder away. 



I once saw (May Q, 1908) a small sized garter snake approach a 

 nest of the Louisiana Water-Thrush (Seiurus motacilla) , to within one 

 foot, while the old bird sat perfectly quiet, watching the slowly moving 

 serpent. With a stick I hurled the snake aside, whereupon the old 

 Water-Thrush flew from the nest in great excitement, although their 

 usual method is to drop to the ground, and with drooping wings, 

 flutter and tumble over the rocky bed of the brook for some distance. 



The Water-Thrush's nest contained six eggs, which would have 

 made a fine meal for the snake, had my interference not prevented. 



Reflecting on my past observations of birds in the presence of 

 snakes, I had decided to follow the next opportunity to an undisturbed 

 termination; but at an unguarded moment when this opportunity 

 presented itself, I spoiled what might have been an interesting result. 



It was, I believe, in the summer of 1908, while climbing up a 

 bushy hillside, I heard an unusually excited Red-ej^ed Vireo {Vireosylva 

 olivacea) in a small isolated clump of ash sprouts, growing around a 

 stump, doing within ten feet, I could see a five foot black snake 

 stretched upon the bending sprouts, two feet off the ground, while the 

 old Vireo was flying from twig to twig quite near the serpent's head, — 

 stopping occasionally, apparently to make sure the object of its dread 

 was really alive,- — all the time uttering, in rapid succession, her alarm 

 notes. For the instant I forgot my former resolution, and seizing a 

 rock, hurled it into the clump. My dog, who had come up by my side, 

 leaped into the bushes when I threw, and the snake, dropping to the 

 ground, scurried away through the grass, while the Vireo darted to a 

 higher tree, still much excited. 



My hasty interference brought a certain condition to my notice 

 which to that moment I had not observed. The commotion caused 

 by the crashing stone and leaping dog frightened more than a score 

 of birds, of several species, from nearby bushes and other advantageous 

 elevations surrounding the clump of ash sprouts, where they had been 

 calmly watching, in silent excitement, the actions of the Vireo. Among 



