510 NATUKE PICTURES. 



accompanjang pictures, have afforded me the greatest pleasure, for 

 they become absolutely fearless of the camera, and they place a degree 

 of trust in one that was as unusual as it was delightful. Being anxious 

 to secure photographs of the young, I paid frequent visits to the nest, 

 and what a wonderfully concealed nest it was, tucked awaj^ in a small 

 depression and hidden by the roots of an oak sapling. It would for- 

 ever have remained undiscovered b}" me had I not b}' lucky chance 

 obser^'ed one of the parent birds visiting it. 



Onh' at first did the owners object to ni}" intruding, and by various 

 methods did they try to coax me away from their home. First one 

 and then the other would feign broken wings, and, half rolling, half 

 scrambling, they would make their way down the steep hillside in the 

 hope of luring me away. Then, finding that I was not to be taken in 

 even b}' such an artful device, they endeavored to accomplish their 

 olijcct by scolding at me. In less than two hours they quieted down 

 and simply looked on in silence. The next time I visited the nest the}^ 

 made no objection, and I imagined they recognized me and realized 

 that I meant no harm either to themselves or to their young, for these 

 had hatched since mj' last visit. Day by daj^ I came to watch the little 

 fellows, and they grew rapidly, as all young birds do. Finally they 

 wei'o ready to make their first venture into the great world that, should 

 no accident befall them, was to be their feeding ground for many years 

 to come. 



SOME EXCITING EXPERIENCES. 



As I looked into the nest the family of fledglings scrambled out as 

 though they had been scattered b}' some invisible hand, so nearly 

 simultaneous was their action, and in less time than it takes to tell it 

 each little mite of down and rust-colored feathers was hidden among 

 the dead, crackling leaves with which the ground was strewn. Though 

 I had tried my best to watch where each bird concealed itself, it was 

 some time before I collected them all preparatory to photographing 

 them. Of course the parents were greatly excited — birds always are 

 when their young first leave the nest — and when they saw the entire 

 brood captured bj^ one whom they had considered a friend, they seemed 

 to regret having placed so much confidence in me. But only for a 

 very short time did their doubts continue. As soon as I placed the 

 youngsters on a suitable perch they both ceased to utter that lisping 

 note of anxious protestation, and to show that they no longer feared 

 me they hopped about on the camera while I was arranging it. 



When 3^oung birds (before the}^ can fly) are placed on a perch they 

 invariably fall ofi" almost as fast as they are put on, and there is usually 

 a bad one in the lot who positively refuses to sit an3^where he may be 

 placed. Not only does he fall ofl', but if possil^le he grabs one or two 

 of his small companions, and down they go together. These young 

 warblers were no exception, and off' they went, one after another. 



