254 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



ing spent several years in southwestern Missouri was fairly 

 familiar with them. When we reached the place where 

 we had seen the bird, mother said "We ought to find the 

 nest somewhere about here for from the way that bird 

 was singing when we passed before, I think it likely that 

 he had already started nest building and they almost always 

 do their singing near the nest." Before we had time to get 

 out of the wagon the male cardinal alighted in the tree 

 above our heads and began scolding and fussing. Now we 

 felt sure the nest was near, and surely enough it was not 

 long until we noticed the little reddish brown mother sit- 

 ting on the nest. The nest was in the branches of a white 

 oak tree so near to the road and so low that by standing up 

 on the seat we were able to look into it. 



As soon as the mother realized she was seen, she left 

 the nest and joined her husband in complaining at our 

 trespassing. Nevertheless we all three had a good look 

 at the nest although we did not go nearer than ten feet. 

 The eggs had already hatched, but the young were evi- 

 dently not over three or four days old. Father and mother 

 were as much disappointed in this as I, for we had planned 

 that if we found birds old enough to raise by hand we 

 would take them for pets. Fearing some one might come 

 by and see us looking at the nest and so learn of its where- 

 abouts, we started on as soon as we heard an approaching 

 wagon. 



The nest was only about four miles from home, and we 

 determined to return for the young birds later. We did 

 not get back for three weeks and were again disappointed, 

 for not only were the young birds gone but we could not 

 find the old ones. Later we learned that an irresponsible 

 man with his gun had come along. There are those who 



