22 8T0EIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



eyes intent upon some object. Soon I discov- 

 ered that the object was a black snake, wliicli 

 liad wound himself around the middle of a 

 shrub. He kept his head toward the robin, and 

 moved it in accordance with her movements. 

 She would fly nearer and nearer to him, 

 more and more rapidly making her peculiar 

 chirping noise, which I cannot better describe 

 than by saying that it seemed to indicate an 

 agonizing delight. The poor bird acted as if 

 she was fascinated ; and the wily serpent acted 

 as one intent upon her for his prey. I carefully 

 watched all their manoeuvres, until the robin 

 was within reach of that part of the snake's 

 body which was not wound around the trunk 

 of the shrub. He suddenly drew himself back, 

 evidently with the intention of making a spring 

 at her, while she now stood motionless. I 

 could bear it no longer, but struck at the 

 enemy with a club. The limbs of the shrub 

 defended him from the force of my bloAv, and 

 he escaped in the brush, as such villains are 

 inclined to do. If my feelings had not been so 

 much enlisted against the seducer, and in de- 

 fence of the deluded and innocent bird, I 

 doubtless should have been able to say, I saw 

 the snake devour the robin. But it gives me 

 much more pleasure to state that I saw the 



