158 THE GKEEX-TAILED ToWUEE. 



Tlic male bird appeared, once, ii|)on a hiisli some twenty feel away, 

 making no liostilc demonstration but beann'ng rather a hearty confidence, as 

 wlio shonld say, "Well. I see you are getting along nicely at home; that's 

 right, enjoy yourselves, and I'll finisli up tliis bit of hoeing before sujjper." 



The mother bird, meanwhile, was uttering no comj)laint of ilie strange 

 presence, preferring instead to glean foixi industriously from under the car]>et 

 of green leaves. Soon siie returned, hopping up daintily. Standing u]x>n 

 tlie elevated brim of her nest she carefully surveyed her briMjd witiiout 

 proffer of food, as tho merely to assure herself of their welfare. I 

 "snapped" and she retreated, not hastily, as tho frightened, but cpiietly as 

 matter of reasonable i)rudence. Again and again during the hour I had 

 her under fire, she returned to her brood. Each time slie retired before the 

 mild roar of tlie curtain shutter, never hastily or nervously, but deliberately 

 and demurely. Thrice .sjie fed her brood, thrusting lier I)eak, whicii Ijore 

 no external signs of food, deep down into the upturned gullets of tlie three 

 children. Thrice she attemiUcd to brood her babes, and very handsome and 

 very motherly slie looked, witli fluffed feathers and mildly inquisitive eye: 

 but the necessary movement fnljowing an exposure sent her away for a 

 season. 



When absent she ncitlier moi)ed nor scolded, but discreetly set ab<5ut 

 scratching for food, always within a range of ten or fifteen feet of the nest. 

 At such times she would look up trustfully and unabashed. Upon the return 

 she never flew, and there was nothing to advise the waiting camerist of her 

 approach, save the rustle of leaves as she came hop. liopjnng, until she stood 

 upon the familiar brim. 



The op])<irtunitics for ])icture-niaking were simply unlimited, save for 

 the weakness of the leaf-diluted light. Seldom have I been stirred to such 

 admiration as in the case of this gentle mother Schislacca. So demure, so 

 even-temi)ercd. and so kindly a bird-jjerson, with such a' preserving air of 

 gentle breeding. I iiave not nften seen. It was an hour to be long 

 remembered. 



No. 64. 



GREEN-TAII in ToWin-E. 



.\. n. V. No. 302.1. Oreospiza chlorura 1 .\iiii. 1. 



Synonyms. — r,KKi:N-T.\iLF.n Finch. Ui.wdi.ng's Finch. 



Description. — .Idiitts: Crown and occiput rich chestnut : forclicad blackish 

 gray with whitish Inral spot on each side; remaining nppcr|)artN olive-gray tinged 

 more or less with hriglit olive-green : wings and tail with brighter greenish 

 edgings: bend of wing, axillaries and under coverts vcllow : chin and throat 



