NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
trunk and clung helplessly, crying in a pite- 
ous, frightened way. Instantly the foster 
mother was at his side with a bit of food 
and a soft note of comfort. ‘‘ Never mind, 
dear, I’m here.” Nor would she leave him 
until after many trials he reached a safer 
perch. 
This pair were utterly unlike the real 
parents in being bold and dashing, careless 
of danger, heedless of our presence, and the 
pictures were secured with the photographer 
only a short distance from the birds. 
It was a great temptation to cut open the 
newly found nest and photograph the entire 
family. The Man with the Camera has since 
regretted that any scruples prevented. How- 
evef, a knowledge that we could not equal 
Mr. Chapman’s inimitable group of nine 
young chickadees at the nest hole, together 
with a resolve to molest nothing unless 
absolutely necessary, restrained us. It is 
sometimes most inconvenient, this having a 
conscience. We never again have had such 
an opportunity to picture chickadee babies. 
118 
