OVEN-BIRD. 230 
mouth of the nest had been pulled together, so as 
to leave only a round hole just large enough for 
the bird to go in and out. For some time I was 
at a loss to account for it, but I had noticed from 
the outset that this bird acted peculiarly. On 
none of my visits had she uttered a note or come 
near me, while the other mother oven-birds always 
began smacking their bills and flying hither and 
thither the instant I appeared. Perhaps this 
mother was more thoughtful than the others, and 
considering their clatter dangerous, went to the 
other extreme. 
The most terrified oven-bird that I have ever 
seen I found on a densely wooded hillside in the 
same woods. She began her smacking as soon as 
we came in sight, but although we hunted care- 
fully for the nest we could not find a trace of it. 
We sat down on a log and waited for her to show 
