184 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 
in her little one. Her eyes were fixed on me, 
however, and just before the baby flew from my 
approaching hand, she dashed down and flew 
about wildly, trailing, as I had hoped. It was 
pitiful to see her distress, and having taken a 
good look at her I retreated as fast as possible. 
Each bird has its own method of decoy: the 
whippoorwill starts up the leaves that look lke 
her scampering babies; the kingfisher falls on 
the surface of the water; and the redstart, instead 
of spreading her wings and tail and dragging 
them on the ground as the oven-bird does, spreads 
and drags her tail, while she flutters her wings 
with a tremulous motion, which is much more ef- 
fective, — suggestive of weakness and helplessness 
to the hungry animal, who finds a fat, full-grown 
bird more appetizing than a scrawny youngster ; 
suggestive of anguish to the man, to whom it 
seems an appeal for mercy. The love of knowl- 
edge gave little excuse for treating a poor little 
mother to such a seare, but I consoled myself by 
thinking that she would be all the more wary 
when real danger threatened. 
LXIT: 
BLACK AND WHITE CREEPING WARBLER. 
As his name indicates, this creeper is entirely 
black and white. Except on the underside of his 
