84 IN THE HEMLOCKS. 



from his throat down, is of a light, delicate 

 yellow, with a belt of black dots across his 

 breast. He has a fine eye, surrounded by a 

 light-yellow ring. 



The parent birds are much disturbed by 

 my presence, and keep up a loud emphatic 

 chirping, which attracts the attention of their 

 sympathetic neighbors, and one after another 

 they come to see what has happened. The 

 chestnut-sided and the Blackburnian come 

 in company. The black and yellow warbler 

 pauses a moment and hastens away ; the 

 Maryland yellow - throat peeps shyly from 

 the lower bushes and utters his " Fip ! fip ! " 

 in sympathy ; the wood-pewee comes straight 

 to the tree overhead, and the red-eyed vireo 

 lingers and lingers, eying me with a curious, 

 innocent look, evidently much puzzled. But 

 all disappear again, one by one, apparently 

 without a word of condolence or encourage- 

 ment to the distressed pair. I have often 

 noticed among birds this show of sympathy, 

 if indeed it be sympathy, and not merely 

 curiosity, or desire to be forewarned of the 

 approach of a common danger. 



An hour afterward I approach the place, 

 find all still, and the mother bird upon the 

 nest. As I draw near she seems to sit closer, 



