Vol. XXn Cx^KVLYi, Domestic Affairs of Bob-white. 1 63 



Tuesday, the twelfth day of August, in passing the spot I 

 thought of the White family and turned aside for a moment's inter- 

 view. I found 'Old Bob' still on guard, promptly responding, 

 relieving himself in haste from his nursery duties with evident 

 solicitude. It brought one matter of interest to my mind, the dic- 

 tum of a recent writer in one of our ornithological publications that 

 Old Bob never took upon himself any share in the domestic cares 

 and responsibilities of his household, not even to the bringing an 

 occasional tidbit to the wife absorbed in household duties, yet here 

 he was faithfully discharging the whole duties of overseer, house- 

 keeper and wet nurse. And I will add that during the whole 

 period of observation there was no appearance of Madam White 

 at the premises. The nineteenth found ' Old Bob,' ever faithful, 

 unwearied in his devotion to the household and its cares, and my 

 interview was a very brief one. 



The twenty-sixth day of August, I was thinking what a fine 

 thing it would be if I could catch ' Old Bob ' as incubation was 

 complete and the babies cuddled together in their nursery just 

 ready to launch forth upon life's weary wanderings mid swarming 

 enemies. What a prize it would be for my camera ! But no such 

 good fortune awaited me and no change appeared in the household 

 affairs of the White family. 



September second ; another month opens on the scene and it 

 occurred to me that if Old Bob should get out a brood they would 

 make poor broilers for the Dogs of War so soon to be let loose, 

 October first being only one month away. Old Bob burst upon 

 the scene with his usual vigor, the same startling whir of wings 

 to which my nerves could never get reconciled, dropped in his old 

 place and began to whine piteously. I peeped into the nest to find 

 everything unchanged. 



" Poor Bob," said I, "right sorry I am for you. All these weary 

 weeks, in storm and sunshine, faithful to life's duty as you view it, 

 and all for naught " ; and here I fell to blaming myself for the dis- 

 turbing interviews that might have wrought this disastrous end to 

 all his care, and I went away feeling the deepest sympathy and 

 regret for poor Bob. 



My sympathy and regrets were all wasted. The morrow found 

 the nest deserted, and only empty shells neatly cut in halves, as if 

 severed by an expert with sharp tools, filled the nest. 



