IV. 



HOME LIFE OF THE REDSTART. 



The redstart himself told me where his trea- 

 sures were "hid in a leafy hollow." Not that he 

 intended to be so confiding; on the contrary he 

 was somewhat disconcerted when he saw what 

 he had done, and tried his best to nndo it by ap- 

 pearing not to have the smallest interest in that 

 particular tree. I happened that morning to be 

 wandering slowly along the edge of a tree -lined 

 ravine, looking for the nest of a greatly disturbed 

 pair of cat-birds. As I drew near an old moss- 

 covered apple-tree, I heard a low though ener- 

 getic "phit! phit!" and a chipping sparrow 

 emerged from the tree with much haste, quickly 

 followed by a redstart, with the unmistakable 

 air of proprietor. The sight of me made a di- 

 version. The pursued dropj^ed into the grass, 

 while the pursuer turned his attention to the 

 bigger game, presented so unexpectedly that he 

 had not time to bethink himself of his usual cus- 

 tom of not showing his gorgeous black and gold 

 about home. He scolded me well for an instant, 

 till his wits returned, when he disappeared like 



