°1918 J Perry, Vesper Sparrow and Hermit Thrush. 313 



over again. The larva by this time was torn and dripping. One of 

 the nestlings findly swallowed it in this condition. 



A fourth duty had to do with guarding the nest. In order to 

 keep the location of the nest a secret, the parents rarely flew 

 directly to the nest or away from it. Even when they were fright- 

 ened, they usually took time to hop away a short distance before 

 flying. They approached the nest by comparatively definite 

 routes. They would alight some ten or fifteen feet away. Then 

 they would hop up slowly, stopping now and then on some observa- 

 tion point, such as a stump or fallen log, look around, call " Neen, 

 neen," and then hop up on one particular side of the nest's rim. 



All the activities of the parents seemed to be part of a definite 

 routine. This call, "Neen, neen," seemed to be a signal call. If 

 one of the pair was at the nest when the other called, it hurriedly 

 left. Both parents were never found at the nest at the same time 

 during my observation. I have even seen a parent engaged in 

 feeding, leave without completing the task when this call was 

 given by the other. Each parent waited after feeding the nestling 

 for it to mute, and then seizing the excreta, would either swallow 

 it or leave with it in the mandibles. After feeding the nestlings, 

 the parent sometimes brooded until compelled to leave at the call, 

 "Neen, neen." There was no variation in their routine except in 

 the intervals between feedings, a decrease in the amount of time 

 spent in brooding, and the breaking of the schedule caused by 

 storms or other interruptions beyond their control. 



One day in the first nest, the brooding female flew directly from 

 the nest. This was such a pronounced breaking of custom that I 

 craned my neck to see what exceptional event could warrant the 

 act. I saw her a few feet away trailing her wings on the ground as 

 if injured. A short distance from her was a garter snake. I could 

 not wait to see the outcome of what seemed like a pending tragedy, 

 but killed the enemy immediately. Realizing that my observations 

 might come to a premature end if another snake should be in search 

 of a dinner while I was absent, I placed around the nest a circular 

 fence of close-meshed wire 18 inches high and about 10 feet in 

 diameter. I then thought that this would keep out snakes. I now 

 doubt its efficiency. 



Soon after I had placed this fence around the nest, the male 



