AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 235 



we will remove our outfit and retire a short ways and watch these gentle 

 housekeepers. Soon the female enters the nest and remains, while he 

 shoulders the responsibility of procuring food. He makes longer journeys 

 than his mate has, and sometimes is away ten or fifteen minutes, A 

 tremulous warble announces his approach, and he plumps down wood- 

 pecker fashion on the edge of the hole and delivers to his mate the prize 

 he has found. After seeing that it is safely fed to the young, he starts on 

 another search. 1 had intended to obtain photos of the young when they 

 were just able to fly, but owing to a mistake in my calculations, I arrived 

 there the day after they had gone and found the nest empty. The 

 patience and industry shown by our common birds at this period is amaz- 

 ing. With the nest building, incubation of the eggs, and the care of the 

 young, they hardly have a moment's leisure from the time of their arrival 

 in the spring to their departure in the fall, c- albert reed. 



TR.UE ADMIRATION. 



Truly the birds admire the beautiful in nature. Just notice their homes. 

 I have seen some wonderful ones this summer, showing the beautiful artis- 

 tic natures of the birds who built them. 



I have often heard it said that "a man could find what he was looking 

 for," but I began to think it did not apply to a woman, for all summer I have 

 looked for the nest of a humming bird; but on the tenth of July my eyes 

 just feasted on a little cotton nest all covered with lichens about twenty 

 feet from the ground, on a small limb of a large maple tree. 1 think 1 never 

 should have seen it but for the evident admiration of a yellow-throated 

 vireo. He hovered near the nest singing soft little love songs, looked it over 

 from either side, fluttered over it with quivering wings, vibrating so rapid- 

 ly, then flew to one side singing his most beautiful song, then back again 

 repeatedly showing his admiration. The little hummer had left the nest 

 and 1 could not leave it longer in the tree to watch, for fear of its being de- 

 molished. O, that I could interpret those soft cooing notes that he uttered 

 repeatedly. Was it not true admiration.? From my own feelings, when 

 the nest was finally in my hands, 1 think I can fully appreciate the little 

 vireo's ecstasy, for a daintier little home I am sure could never be found. 

 I wonder if other birds stop to look and admire these dainty little homes.? 



Rest H. Metcalf. 



