A SEARCH FOR A WHTPPOORWILl's NEST. 195 



songs with little regard for the proprieties, but with no 

 lack of melody. From all appearances there were nests 

 close at hand, as the birds made a great ado when we 

 approached certain localities, but after a fruitless search 

 for half an hour we again reahzed what we supposed we 

 already knew, that the nest of a bobolink is a very diffi- 

 cult thing to find. I have found a few, and a very few, 

 in comparison with the number secreted. I often think 

 the cunning creatures, in order to mislead, make the 

 greatest fuss when you are farthest from the nests ; 

 besides, the female of this species, which alone does the 

 sitting, is almost the color of the grass next the ground. 

 There is more danger that you will step on the nest 

 than that you will find it. 



In a stump by the fence a blue bird had a nest with 

 four eggs. "While we were admiring the pale blue gems, 

 the male bird pleasantly caroled from a fence stake; 

 there was no touch of spite or of annoyance in his soft, 

 sweet warble. It was serenity itself. Never were song 

 and vespers sparrows more tuneful. They were making 

 up for the loss of the day before. If old Izaak Walton 

 had been present, he might well again have exclaimed, 

 as he is said to have done while listening to the thrushes: 

 " Lord, what music hast Thou prepared for Thy saints 

 in heaven, when Thou aff ordest such wonderful songs to 

 Thy creatures on earth ! " We were tempted to linger 

 long in this attractive meadow, over which melody and 

 fragrance were so lavishly scattered, and the 'sun was 

 high in the heavens when we reached the woods. After 

 a search of less than half an hour our silent guide drew 



