THE PERCHING BIRDS. 107 



proper regard for another's feelings you will retire. 

 There is not a vestige of reason, at this late day, why 

 any one should rob a bird's nest. 



In the summer of 1893 I had a curious experi- 

 ence with a male chewink. I was on a legitimate 

 errand in a tangled swamp, when suddenly a chewink 

 appeared directly above me, scolding vehemently. I 

 went about my business, and having gathered the 

 plants that I was after, walked a full eighth of a mile 

 to a grassy bank among old oaks to take a deliberate, 

 long-drawn-out nooning. The bird followed me, and 

 when I laid down and attempted to take a nap, came 

 very closely and chirped che-wink into my ears so 

 that sleep was impossible. I remained in the one 

 spot from i P.M. to 2.30 P.M., and then started for 

 home, the bird still there, but showing no dispo- 

 sition to still remain in my company. I never 

 knew what was the trouble, but think it probable I 

 had stepped upon its nest while botanizing in the 

 swamp. 



I have often wondered if any one was so indifferent 

 to birds that he would not turn his head if a Cardinal 

 Grosbeak flashed by. I would rather see than know 

 such a man. All my life I have known the Winter 

 Red-birds, for by this name in my early days they 

 were always spoken of to distinguish them from the 

 Summer Red-bird, or Tanager ; and in Central New 

 Jersey, too, the name of Winter Red-bird was a most 

 appropriate one, for the bird was a common, persistent 

 feature of the December landscape. I never could 

 understand why it was that Wilson should assert of 

 them that 



