244 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 





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A STRAY SHOT. 



It was early in the morning, tliat is early for the use of the camera, and 

 I was walking briskly through a pasture, which was dotted here and 

 there with clumps of thorn and oaks. 1 was on my way to the home of a 

 bird, the growth of whose family I was interested in. As usual, 1 had 

 with me a complete line of picture taking utensils, and was prepared to 



spend the day, if necessary, to ob- 

 tain the desired views. A shadow 

 crossed the path; glancing up, I 

 caught sight of a Brown Thrasher, 

 just disappearing into a low bush, 

 and saw that she carried a grub of 

 some sort in her bill. Naturally, 1 

 stepped over and parted the branch- 

 es, to see what she was doing there. 

 Evidently I broke in upon them at 

 just dinner time, and Mrs. Thrash- 

 er was very much displeased, for 

 she did her best to drive me away 

 from her nest. Hissing and squeal- 

 ing, and with wings and tail spread, 

 she kept darting towards me, and 

 once even pecked the fingers that 

 ON GUARD. held the branches aside. 1 had seen 



no sign of the male bird, but as I turned to leave, I saw him perched on a 

 dead twig above the next bush. As he was so quiet I decided to photo- 

 graph him if I could. He was a very accommodating bird, and remained 

 still while 1 went back to the path, got the camera, set it up, focused it, 

 and got an exposure. This was one of the many stray shots that are 

 obtained. It was taken with the back combination of the lens, at a dis- 

 tance of about fifteen feet. <^- ^'-^^^'^ R'^'^^- 





Photo from life. 



THAT "ENGLISH" SPARROW. 



(Passer domesticus. ) 



Perhaps there is not one of our feathered acquaintances that is so un- 

 justly abused by all as our little friend. Passer domesticus, that "English" 

 Sparrow, To be sure he is a willful little creature and takes delight in 

 tantalizing his smaller door yard neighbors, but bleak indeed would be our 

 city streets, when baked by the summer sun, or clothed in the chilling 

 snows of winter, were it not for his cheery chirp. It is with the hope that 



