NEWS IN THE FAMILY. 63 



spected the nest to see that all was right, then 

 slipj)ed in, settled herself with a gentle flutter 

 of wings, and I knew she was safe for another 

 half hour. It was the closest watching I ever 

 tried, so quick were the motions, so silent the 

 going and coming. 



Now and then the redstart chose to stay lon- 

 ger at home. The usual time having expired, 

 the little sitter appeared, but if her mate did 

 not vacate, she availed herself of the additional 

 liberty in flitting about the tree, adding a dessert 

 to her dinner. On one occasion he let her re- 

 turn twice before he left, occupying her place 

 for eight minutes, — an enormous length of time 

 for a redstart. More often he grew impatient 

 in less than three minutes, and once he forgot 

 himself so far as to call while in the nest. 



During the sitting there came two days of 

 steady, pouring rain and high wind. I feared 

 the hopes of that family, as well as others all 

 about, would perish, but the brave little mother 

 bore the depressing season well. The eggs were 

 never left uncovered, nor did that gay rover, 

 her spouse, forget to take her place as usual. 



On the morning of my fourth day of watching, 

 I saw there was news; sitting was over, and 

 though they could not be seen, it was easy to 

 picture the featherless, wide-mouthed objects, 

 evidently so lovely to the young parents. Close 



