BALD PEAKS AND GREEN VALES 79 



of the nest, while I stood close at one side watching the 

 doorway. The bird came to the orifice, peeped out, 

 then, seeing me, quickly drew back, determined not to 

 desert his brood in what he must have regarded as an 

 emergency. In spite of all my pounding and coaxing 

 and feigned scolding and I kept up the racket for 

 several minutes I did not succeed in driving the pater 

 familias from his post of duty. Once he apparently 

 made a slight effort to escape, but evidently stuck fast 

 in the entrance, and so dropped back and would not 

 leave, only springing up to the door and peeping out at 

 me when my appeals became especially vigorous. It 

 appeared like a genuine case of " I 'm determined to 

 defend my children, or die in the attempt ! " 



Meanwhile the mother bird was flitting about in an 

 agitated way, uttering piteous cries of remonstrance 

 and entreaty. Did that bandit intend to rob her of 

 both her husband and her children ? It was useless, if 

 not wanton, to hector the poor creatures any longer, even 

 to study their behavior under trying circumstances ; 

 and I left them in peace, and hurried down to my lodg- 

 ings in Manitou, satisfied with the results of my day's 

 ramble. 



